



t 



Equality 

Mental and Political Liberty 

and 

The Progress of Nature 

K), •' 1 v "■ " 1 ° 


Multum in Parvo 


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Copyright, 1913 
By Nahum W. French 


Published November, 1913 



To 

My Fellow Citizens 
and 

To My Fellow Beings 
I Respectfully Dedicate 
This Work 
1915 


FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. 


“Freedom of the press was acquired after one of the longest and 
hardest fights in Anglo-Saxon history. The people have been very 
jealous in its defense ever since. Publishers of periodicals which 
have preached doctrines that a great majority of Americans utterly de¬ 
spised, have found unexpected friends when petty prejudice has 
attempted to suppress them. Perhaps we have gone to the extreme 
of license, but it is the safer extreme. Americans have a firm 
faith in the triumph of right. They believe that nothing will sooner 
kill bad doctrines than their free discussion. Publishers are 
properly held responsible for assaults on individual reputations 
and for violations of the laws of common decency. But the people 
resent any attempt to hold publishers to legal accountability for the 
expression of opinion on general questions, and efforts to establish 
a censorship in advance of publication will fail, as long as American 
principles retain their pristine vigor. ” 

For this great evolution, in The Progress of Nature, and 
for the straightforward and manly services of our printers:— 
Sincere thanks are expressed. 


CONTENTS. 

Part I. Taxation. 


Synopsis. i 

Petition to, and Report of Superior Court. 7 

Brief to Supreme Court. 8 

Argument. (Defense absent). 10 

Equity. 25 

Result of Selling Price. 26 

Amendments Proposed for Constitution. 30 

Value and Amendments. 30 

Opinion of Supreme Court. 35 

Political Liberty.,. 38 

Extracts from Jackson’s Messages. 41 

State Money and Industrials. 43 

Outline for Tax Assessment. 46 

True Value in Forest Land. 48 

The Observer. Family Herald 49 

Extract. H. C. Morrison 51 

Humanized Law. Woodrow Wilson 52 

Mental Liberty. (Appendix).. 59 

Finale. 75 

Part II. The Progress of Nature. 

Birth of Recognition. 79 

Renascence. 84 

Analysis. 88 

The Force of God. 96 

God Defined. 102 

Genesis. 109 

Mechanical Universe. 114 

God’s Electric Plant. 114 

Moral Results. 118 

Practical Results. 130 

Psalm of Life. Longfellow 132 

Prof. Shaler. (Harvard University). 134 

The Book of Wisdom. (Apocrypha). Democritus 135 


































<JTo collect directly on income-profit, used—if used, 
not easy:—Collect from tangibles—according to ‘proper’ 
profits, developed in the State—a percent for revenue:— 
Retain from intangible’s ‘proper share’ of these profits, 
developed in the State, a fixed, average, comparative 
tax, rate percent for equity. 

<1 Natural principle is not created or spoken out of 
existence by human agency; but is an everlasting 
property inherent in the nature of things and in the 
Natural Rights of Man. N. W. F. 


The Progress of Nature 


Valley View 
Thornton’s Ferry, N. H. 






SYNOPSIS OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF GENERAL, PROP¬ 
ERTY (QUALITY) TAXATION:—PRESENTED IN 
ARGUMENT TO THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW 
HAMPSHIRE MARCH TERM 1913. 

Contending that:—To tax trees (or any other ‘thing’) on the 
selling value—actual, or guessed at—is radically in violation of 
written Statutes; and ruinous to predial farm life and existence. 

That:—Selling values are in exchange for indefinite years of 
compiled expenses, or profits (true value), or for any other 
consideration imaginable; true, or untrue, appraisable in money, 
or not. 

That:—‘True Value/ is Net profits from the ‘property’— 
quality of—a ‘thing.’ The profit (true value) capitalized (ap¬ 
praised) gives the true taxing value, in the thing. 

That:—To tax all taxable ‘ quality ’ (property) at {not on) 
its true value, in money, each year, is Statutory; and just to all 
parties and industries. 

‘Property,—is Quality,—of a Thing.’ (dictionary) 

A thing has many different properties or qualities in it. 

Expense, sentiment, exact usefulness (profit or ‘true value’), 
beauty, religion, any imaginable characteristic may be one of 
the many properties or qualities of a thing; the same as person, 
number, gender and case are the properties or qualities of a noun; 
or as matter has many different properties as is taught in chem¬ 
istry. 

No one of the properties or qualities of matter, of a noun or 
of a thing, is the matter, the noun, or the thing itself:—therefore 
the ‘property of true value appraisable in money’ in a thing can¬ 
not be the whole thing, or include the property or quality of 
expense. 

The sale of a thing (unless it be a thing like a dollar, or the 
credit balance of a good account—the profit—‘true value’) is 


2 


a sale of all the properties or qualities in the thing or in an estate, 
at a price to cover the property of expense, to satisfy the senti¬ 
mental properties as well as the true produce of profit:—there¬ 
fore it may be plainly seen, that a sale value of a commercial 
thing is a gross value, and is as far from “true or exact value” 
as the varying qualities of business and of things can possibly 
develop. And further: No person can be granted, or ever has 
been granted, constitutionally or statutorily, the power to make 
the ‘property of true value’ include the property of expense; for 
natural principle is not created or spoken out of existence by 
human agency, but is an everlasting property inherent in the 
nature of things and in the Natural Rights of Man. 

‘Value’ is the ‘property,’ the ‘Quality’ of a thing, which 
renders it useful (profitable), (dictionary) 

‘Things’ are not taxable property, or quality; but, may have 
in them , a quality, or a property, of value,—usefulness—that is 
taxable. 

True, exact value must have been produced and actually 
received into the estate within the year , and cannot include 
expenses, losses, or mistakes, for they are not value; neither 
sentiments, religious, esthetic, or otherwise, not appraisable in 
money, because they yield no money. 

‘Taxable property of True Value’:—is quality of a thing which, 
according to the nature and purpose, ordinarily produces a use, 
convertible into a money profit within the year, from April first 
to April first—“Liable,” ( bound in equity) to proportionally 
divide the profit (true value) with the public; secured, not on the 
profit (true value, use), for that may have served its purpose 
and been used up, and beyond reach; but upon the thing, having 
the quality (the property) to produce the true value—profit. 

Any tax bill based upon the selling price of a thing, —instead 
of upon the quality (‘property’) of the thing, at its one year’s 
usefulness convertible into a money, true value profit—violates 
New Hampshire’s written Statutes; and is protested. 


N. W. French. 


3 


Value of the Thing Itself, its bodily value:—is ‘amount obtain¬ 
able in exchange’—a selling value of the whole body of the 
thing, for conveyances, to settle estates, to die by, not its true 
use or profit value, to live by year by year. 

As all money value of property—quality—comes from the 
public —not from Nature ,—the public is entitled to a per cent only 
of the profits produced by, or because of, the public; not of the 
things produced independently, by Nature; or that are produced 
for sentiment only, without a money profit from the public. 

Selling Values of things may be made up of expenses mostly; as 
compiled for a lifetime in a forest: May be, and very generally 
with some classes are fixed by necessity, compulsory, or senti¬ 
mental conditions, religious, educational, erratic, having no 
true value appraisable in money. 

Homes and farms and produce of New Hampshire land are 
necessities to the existence of the country people whether a 
commensurate true value is produced from them or not. 

“The word ‘person’ may extend and be applied to bodies 
corporate and politic as well as to individuals.” (Pub. Stat. 
Chap. 2. Sec. 9.) 

“Stock (things, or estate) in corporations (or personal estates) 
shall not be taxed, if the nature and purposes of the corporation 
(or personal estate) are such that no dividend of its (yearly) 
profits (true value) is to be made.” (Pub. Stat. Chap. 55 
Sec. 9.) 

Yet locally, we believe such estates held in obstruction to 
ordinary economic human progress may be subject separately 
to a public charge in the nature of a damage or a license fee, and 
not interfere with the limitations of reason and proportionality; 
the produced advantage being from development of quality in 
the surrounding estates. This increment of advantage must, in 
equity, exceed the current expenses, to justify the special charge. 
Bear in mind such special charge or tax is not in the nature of a 
general quality, or property tax; and does not come into consid¬ 
eration in this work. 

Corporations have seen to it that in ‘practice’ they are taxed 


4 


well within a ‘true value’ basis; deducting all salaries and costs, 
as operating expenses, each year. 

Salaried Officers and Artisans, who by their arts and trades 
are more enabled to help bear the public charge than common 
laborers,—according to justice, and the Statutory obligation by 
the word ‘liable’ (bound inequity),—are to be rated for returns 
and gains (more than common laborers) proportionally unto 
other men for the produce of their estates:—Violated in ‘prac¬ 
tice’; and by Act in 1913 (not signed by the Governor), making 
a uniform poll tax, whatever the capita (faculty) returns and 
gains above common labor. The wage of common labor is cov¬ 
ered by the poll tax. 

Traders, who may and do receive into their estates a profit, 
a true value, over and over again —out of the public —as many 
times as they can turn their goods, or simply orders during the 
year, have no interest to change the present ‘practices’; for, by 
a full, true, profit value appraisal they would be made to return 
to the public, their proportional part. 

Farmers, who by ‘true value’ (one year’s profits) as the basis 
of appraisal—deducting all operating expenses—would pay their 
full share, are, by practices in violation of written Constitutions 
and statutes, beguiled to pay upon the bodily selling price of 
indefinite years (their whole life’s), compilation of true value, 
(profits, savings) in their things (their estates). And this sell¬ 
ing value is transiently or permanently fixed by all manner of 
influences, sentiments religious or otherwise, expenses, losses, or 
necessities, without true relation or any relation at all, to their 
“property,” ‘quality’ of ‘true value,’ (profit). 

The Courts, Professions, Speculators, Corporations and Deal¬ 
ers are saying in effect:—If the xxx are as a class susceptible 
of being beguiled to persist in the ‘ practice ’ of basing their part 
of the tax burden upon the selling value of their whole life’s work, 
instead of upon one year’s true value (profit) of the quality of 
their things:—Why! let them do it regardless of individual pro¬ 
test; regardless of Constitutions and Statutes by all, or any man¬ 
ner of means. It helps us out. We can get what they are obliged 


5 


to produce, and the balance from the Great West. It enables 
us to outbid, for the services of their sons and daughters, and 
drives them to sell their stored up expenses in their forest lots,—• 
under distress,—to our speculators, jobbers or manufacturers, to 
make a large profit from. Let them pay their poll tax besides, 
even if they have given their whole life’s labor (salary) and ex¬ 
penses, to their farms and forests without charge or considera¬ 
tion, failing to show up the ‘true value’ (profits) of the quality, 
‘the property,’ as provided them may do, by Sect. 1, Chap. 58, 
Pub. St at. 

—Results of Such Violations of Constitutional Statutes.— 
Depopulation and devastation of the country to the advantage 
of corporations, traders, and salaried characters, in central places 
and cities; who by Labor and Lobby Unions and sundry serv¬ 
ices to—succeed in getting their salaries raised, and their services 
of time, worth, and justice reduced, until no available induce¬ 
ment (absolute necessity, circumstances, homes and substance 
to save the souls of the aged and incapacitated—what won’t a 
person do to save his body and soul?) will persuade intelligence 
and vitality to remain on the farm, except long enough to skin 
off any quickly available value that they can procure help from 
the city to obtain. 

Is this all mistaken error? Or is it selfish dishonesty? What 
of an authority that will render findings that support such prac¬ 
tices to the destruction of the vitality of written Statutes and 
Constitutions? 

Is it to be “Recall of Judgments and Judges?” Or is it to be 
a boundless wilderness of chaos, discord? Or weakness, servility, 
and extinction of respectable, intelligent farm life? 

Recall—at least instruct your representatives— in no mis¬ 
taken terms —to add to the wording of the Statutes treating of 
taxation, in each respective, proper place, the prime, the first, 
the most important, the only definition that will give any sense to 
the Constitution and Statutes (given in any standard diction¬ 
ary) of the words Liable, Property, True and Value, directly 
after the words, thus: Liable, bound in equity. Property, 


6 


quality. True, exact. Value, usefulness, profit. Or, introduce 
into Chapter 2 of the Public Statutes, sections giving these defi¬ 
nitions of the words. 

That our next Court of the people in 1915 do this, is the earn¬ 
est prayer from the rural and common people of “Beautiful, but 
dying New Hampshire.” 

A tax according to income, above the wage of common labor, 
is economically the correct method of taxation; because it reaches 
not only individual ability, but the productivity of wealth. 

Professor Seligman has this to say, and it is quoted with ap¬ 
proval in the reports of many states: 

“The general property tax as actually administered (prac¬ 
ticed) is beyond all doubt one of the worst taxes known in the 
civilized world. Because of its attempt to tax intangible as well 
as tangible things , it sins against the cardinal rules of uniformity, 
of equality, and of universality of taxation. It puts a premium 
on dishonesty and debauches the public conscience; it reduces 
deception to a system, and makes a science of knavery; it presses 
hardest on those least able to pay; it imposes double taxation on 
one man and grants entire immunity to the next. In short the 
general property tax is so flagrantly inequitable that its reten¬ 
tion can be explained only through ignorance or inertia. It is 
the cause of such crying injustice that its alteration or its aboli¬ 
tion must become the battle cry of every statesman and re¬ 
former.” 

How can reform be, until ignorance and selfishness are placed 
in the background by a just interpretation of our Constitution 
and Statutes? 


July, A. D. 1913 


7 


Grafton, ss. Superior Court, 

September Term, 1912, 

NAHUM W. FRENCH v. TOWN OF LYME 

Petitions for abatement of taxes, under Section 11, Chapter 
59 of the Public Statutes, for the years 1909, 1910 and 1911. 

The plaintiff is a resident of Haverhill, Grafton County, and, 
during the years for which he seeks an abatement of taxes, owned 
real estate in defendant town, which was taxed as non-resident. 

The plaintiff’s petitions were referred to the Tax Commission, 
under Section 9, Chapter 169, Laws of 1911. 

The Tax Commission reported that the petitioner was entitled 
to an abatement of a certain sum, for each of said years, and a 
certain additional sum for each year, if the Court held uncon - 
stitutional Chapter 95 of the Laws of 1907, exempting, from 
taxation, taxable property of a soldier or sailor, and the wife, or 
widow of any such soldier or sailor, to the value of $1000, pro¬ 
vided such soldier or sailor, and his wife, if any, shall not own 
property to the value of $3000, or more. 

The petitioner, before the Commission, claimed that in ap¬ 
praising, for taxation, his land, which was woodland, the value 
of the growing trees thereon should be excluded; but the Com¬ 
mission declined the plaintiff’s request, and included the value 
of the growing trees as part of the value of the taxed land. 

The Court, upon the return of the Tax Commission’s report, 
upon said petitions, ordered judgment upon the report in accord¬ 
ance with the findings of the Commission; and the plaintiff 
excepted. 

Reserved and transferred.* 

JOHN M. MITCHELL, 
Presiding Justice. 

*Counsel abandoned the case :—Having received the express desire of the court that he do 
everything he can do to cause his client to desist from transferring to the Supreme Court 
“such a frivolous and useless proposition”; and from the plaintiff, a refusal, to have Soldier's 
Exemptions discussed or a further discussion of selling value, as true value. 


8 


SUPREME COURT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
Grafton, ss. September Term, 1912. 

N. W. FRENCH y. TOWN OF LYME, N. H. 

BRIEF. 

Pertaining to exception taken upon a finding that trees 
are a part of land; and therefore their value not to be excluded, 
in general property tax appraisals; involving in the solution of 
this case, a decision, whether “True Value” means an appraisal 
based on the current or past years’ use and benefit or growth 
value, or, whether ‘True Value,’ means an appraisal based on 
estimated “amount obtainable in exchange” for all past years’ 
growth of use and benefit, in gross aggregate of all else pertaining. 

Surely, this planet on which we live, the land, real estate, 
is made up of ‘parts’ (or properties); but, as surely, the different 
parts (or properties) are not all governed by the same natural 
or political laws. (If it were so, rocks would rise in air, or gas 
would fall to earth, and political laws would be necessary to 
regulate the quarrying of gas plants. * * *) N. H. 68, p 

120 . 

“Real estate is liable to be taxed.” Pub. Stat., Chapt. 55; 
‘liable,’ means bound in law, in equity; that is, in reason, equality, 
and proportionality:—constitutional requirements. Only (pro¬ 
ducing) property is named to be taxed, unless the tax is laid to 
curtail an evil; Pub. Stat., Chapt. 55, Sects. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9; “use 
and benefit,” in no case or place, is specified to be included; 
hence, those always distinguishable, separable, re-present-ative, 
use and benefit, produced ‘parts’ (trees)—like other nonpro¬ 
ducing, or dependent, parts of property, such as young live 
stock, farm crops, rent, ores or any other appurtenant part in a 
natural state, churches, charity structures, and monuments 
even though made of gold, and even though any of these things 
may have a gross or selling value of thousands of dollars—have 


9 


not been named by the legislature as taxable property, or as 
taxable appurtenant ‘parts’ of real estate. Why, where is the 
constitutional reason? Is it not simply because these ‘parts/ 
of themselves , produce nothing to pay a tax with? Zero cannot 
be a term of the constitutional or any other proportion. 

By Chapt. 61, Sect. 21, the only inference to be drawn is, that 
standing trees or wood are to be taken as real estate, only in 
collecting taxes as by chapters 60 and 61, and not, to be taken as 
taxable real estate in other cases or chapters. 

Is it not a fact that, to tax that ‘part’ of real estate made up of 
trees, at a gross, selling value appraisal, in with the pre-mised 
land area value, is a multiple tax? If the produce, use and bene¬ 
fit, were taxable at all while dependent,—Kennard et al v. Man¬ 
chester, 68 N. H., p. 61; State v. Express Co., 60 N. H., p. 244, 
245; Cooley on taxation second edition, p. 221, 225, 227, 367— 
only the current or past years’ use and benefit or produced ‘part’ 
could be included; whereas the part representing the trees stands 
for all past years’ produce of the pre-mised grant, to the age of 
the trees. Such a tax, on the aggregate, to be paid each year, is 
beyond our understanding of ‘equality, proportionality, and 
reason’; when compared with the tax based upon specific, pro¬ 
ducing parts (or qualities) of estates, according to true or real 
value as in other lines of business. 

Is such an aggregate compilation of gross value tax according 
to the granted rights vested by our title deeds, guaranteeing the 
‘use and benefit’ of the pre-mised land, to the grantee or his 
assigns only, forever? 

The use value as applied by the legislature always in its acts 
and practices, from the laying of the constitution down to 1833, 
was only upon specific (producing) property; according to the 
yearly use and benefit or income which the specific taxable 
property yielded each year, only; is such a value true value, 
or, what is true value? 

Those founders of the constitution in their subsequent legis¬ 
lative acts would be likely to know how to interpret their own 
work. 


10 


January 4, 1833, the legislature passed an act making all 
ratable (taxable part, of) estate to be appraised by the selectmen 
or assessors of the several towns, at its full and true value in 
money; could this act delegate to the selectmen any power that had 
never been possessed, or even assumed by the legislature? (ante, 
p. 1, 2.) We believe that “true value” means to-day just what 
it meant then, and has always meant; viz:—a value in propor¬ 
tion to the “property or properties of a thing which render it 
of ‘use and benefit/—income,—profit. (Dictionary.) 

Applied to specific property (understood as a thing), can 
‘true value’ mean— amount obtainable in exchange, a selling 
value, gross value, gross receipts, expenses, speculative price, 
stringent necessity or circumstance value? For, are they not all 
diametrically adverse to that which tends to true “equality, 
justice, and proportionality”? 

Is the produced ‘part’ of land—made up of trees—ratable, or 
taxable estate, with, or in addition to the pre-mised land area 
part? 

Respectfully, 

Nahum W. French. 

Distributed Dec. 1912. 


ARGUMENT FOR THE PLAINTIFF,— pro se. 
January, 1913. 

Delivered March 4, 1913. 


It has come to be understood that there is something wrong 
about the present practice of taxing trees at their full selling 
value in with the land that produced them. 

This positive understanding has publicly found expression 
recently, from different sources, and became so urgent that at 
our late Constitutional convention a remedy was proposed; but 
the remedy was to be uncertain, and was to be made at the sac- 



11 


rifice of the most vital, fundamental, principles of justice and pro¬ 
portionality as laid by our constitution; and consequently was 
most naturally defeated. Therefore, the confusion attending 
the question (a delusion), still stands before us to consider. 

“It is specific property that is taxable. This has been the 
rule of the province and the State;” 58 N. H., p. 551, J. Doe. 

Specific taxable property must be the producing property, for 
the part being produced can produce nothing of itself, and there¬ 
fore is not itself specific property, but re-present-ative of the 
specific property; therefore, the part which is producing and the 
part which is being produced cannot both be taxed without dupli¬ 
cation; the illegality of which, it must be, is not necessary for me 
to discuss; and neither does it seem necessary to go into a de¬ 
tailed academic consideration of the meaning of the words prop¬ 
erty, and true value; for when this is done it leads to the same 
result. 

Value is property. “Value Received,” is the produce of 
“Specific property.” Value anticipated, expected, or hoped 
for, is property; it is a quality; but not a sure, true, real 
value, property, or quality; therefore not ‘specific* and not 
a taxable value, property, or quality; for such is not yet, of itself, 
either sure or producing or received, and can form no part of a pro¬ 
portion. Like a problem in mathematics, this laying of equal bur¬ 
den is correctly solved only by application of correct principle; 
the principle may be hard to find, possibly lost sight of, in mis¬ 
take or selfishness often suppressed; consequently all manner of 
hit or miss ways are applied, resulting in all manner of error and 
injustice. 

Specific, appraisable, or taxable property or quality of value, 
is a property or quality of value that ordinarily should or has 
produced a profit received into the estate during the year pre¬ 
ceding the first day of April. 

Market or selling value, is based upon anticipated future re¬ 
ceipt of value or profit. The causes for such anticipation of 
profit are various, and, very often, in no way connected with a 
profit, or taxable value received in the past; therefore, selling 


12 


value taken as a basis for taxing appraisals, is not application 
of the correct principle; it is one of the hit or miss ways being 
practiced. 

It is proper to consider what has been, and is, the rule of the 
State, as expressed by the legislature of the State, in the statutes. 

Chap. 55, Sect. 1. All able males between twenty-one and 
seventy years of age are liable to be taxed; that is, they are liable 
during the producing age. 

Sect. 2. Real estate, is liable, to be taxed. ‘ Liable’ means, 
bound in equality, in law, in proportionality and in reason— 
Constitutional requirements; and is to be taxed only, as specified 
by the legislature, 1 so the same he not repugnant or contrary to 
the principles of equality and proportionality of this constitution 

Churches, and the ordinarily necessary ($2500), appurtenant 
‘part ’ of parsonages, if used for the designed purpose, and alms¬ 
houses on county farms, are excepted, even, from a liability to be 
taxed. Why? Is it not because churches or almshouses pro¬ 
duce nothing to pay a tax with? 

Sect. 3. Buildings, mills, carding machines, factory buildings 
and machinery, wharves, ferries, toll bridges, locks and canals, 
and aqueducts, if owned, operated, and employed—that is, if 
they are producing, they are bound to be taxed. 

Sect. 4, Real estate shall be taxed independently of any 
mines or ores contained therein until such mines or ores shall be¬ 
come a source of profit—Until they become actual, producing, 
specific, property. 

Sect. 7. Personal property liable to be taxed is;—Horses, 
asses, and mules over eighteen months old; oxen, cows and other 
neat stock over eighteen months old; sheep and hogs over six 
months old: These all have a selling value before their specified 
ages, but they have not come to a producing age, an age at 
which they can render a yearly quality of realized usefulness. 

Sect. 9. “Stock in corporations shall not be taxed, if the 
nature and purpose of the corporation are such that no divi¬ 
dend of profits is to made:” that is, if there is naturally, ordi¬ 
narily, no produce in the time limit, over which the jurisdiction 


13 


of the State, under its rule of policy, can extend; viz., the year 
preceding the first day of April. 

All the aforesaid sections afford indubitable evidence that the 
rule, the clear and emphatic policy of the State is—that, taxable 
or specific property is the producing property; and the produced 
use and benefit, must be rendered during the year preceding the 
first day of April. 

Nature will not produce one penny of income, use or benefit, 
from an unfinished building, a forest, or other NON-specific 
property; however, properly and necessarily, the selling price 
must cover all the compiled expenses that have entered therein; 
they are property, having an anticipated, but not a specific 
value. 

By what rule of the State can such compiled anticipated values 
be annually included with the value of the annually producing 
specific land? Expenses are not value, neither are anticipated 
values specific values or true values. 

This quality of usefulness determines the taxable property; 
it is the re-present-ative true value of the thing, that possesses 
such a quality; it is the true value, for it is the permanent, 
natural, fixed, dependable value; therefore, it is the taxing value, 
rendering equality, and proportionality. 

Simplified,—it is specific, producing property or quality that 
is taxable, by the rule and policy of the State; without regard to 
what some speculative ‘bull or bear’ may name, or make, as a 
selling price; only so far as such a selling price may in some cases 
be taken or considered as evidence, to assist in finding the true 
value. 

Specific land produces, but its produce does not produce, until 
separated from the specific land and itself becomes a source of actual 
use and benefit. Hence—like ores or mines as treated by Sect. 4, 
aforesaid, the land is to be taxed independently of any natural 
produce thereon until such produce becomes a source of profit 
according to the aforesaid rule of the province and the state. 

Fundamental rules are very important things either for a 
State, or for a subject unable to get beyond common English, as 


14 


originally taught in our public schools. For harmony, the rule 
of the one must be the rule of the other. 

This rule of the province was plainly stated by the council 
and subsequently by the legislature down to 1833; stating over 
and over again that “Each subject shall be made to pay in pro¬ 
portion to his income.” 

“All houses, mills, warehouses and other buildings, wharves 
and ferries shall be estimated at one-tenth part of their neat 
yearly value.” This could not have meant possibly a selling 
value. It meant net income, for it is worded that way in many 
acts. 

Different lines of business involve such wide and varying differ¬ 
ences in expenses, risks, skill, losses and necessities and in all 
things pertaining to human weaknesses and conditions that may 
make uncertain and untrue, that no valuaton, except one elimi¬ 
nating these wide differences and great uncertainties, can be 
justly used to lay equal, reasonable or proportional burdens. 

Selling values, or gross receipts —for the sales hook demonstrates 
them to he the same —are controlled and established through the 
operation of one or more of the aforesaid diverging elements, and 
cannot, therefore, be the absolute or paramount lawful evidence 
of true value. 

Justice Stanley has said in State v. Express Co., 60 N. H., p. 
244, 245: “To impose a tax on gross receipts is in no sense a tax 
on property, or on polls or estates It does not regard the 
capital invested, the expenses incurred, or the losses sustained, 

AND IF, BY ANY PROCESS OF REASONING IT COULD BE HELD A TAX 
ON PROPERTY, THE TAX SO IMPOSED IS NOT REASONABLE AND 

proportional. The gross receipts of one company or enterprise 
may be small and the net profits large, while of another the gross 
receipts may be large and the profits small, or there may be no 
profits at all. If, the legislature had the right, to lay a tax on gross 
receipts (or sale value), there is nothing to prevent them effectually 
destroying any business which they chose .” 

In further verification of the herein argued facts, reference is 
made to Grafton County v. Haverhill, 68 N. H., p. 120; Appendix 


15 


of Tax Com. Report of 1908, p. 173, 214, 216, 217: Cooley on 
taxation, second edition, p. 8, 24, 220, 221, 225, 227, 792, 367; 
Pub. Stat., Sec. 10, Chap. 55. 

It is duplicate taxation to lay an additional tax upon the de¬ 
pendent produce, use and benefit of the specific property—in 
verification of which it may be seen that, to follow the rule of the 
State, the title deeds given by the State guarantee to the grantee 
the use and benefit of the premise, to his or his assigns only proper 
use and benefit forever. 

By the premise or written descriptive part of a New Hampshire 
deed, trees are never treated as integral with the land area; but 
are treated as one of the appurtenances that may, in any deal, be 
excepted and treated separately. 

Forest lands are unimproved lands; unimproved means not 
improved; if there are not improvements, there cannot be added 
true value; the reason is because there is a compilation of expenses 
that must enter into the nature of things, leaving only the 
“proper, use and benefit” granted by the title. 

* The selectmen shall appraise all taxable property at its full 
and true value in money as they would appraise the same in 

* payment of a just debt due from a solvent debtor, and shall 
receive and consider all evidence that may be submitted to 

* them relative to the value of shares in corporations and other 
property the value of which cannot be determined by personal 

* examination. They shall deduct from the appraised value of 
shares in any corporation a just proportion of the value of 
any estate of such corporation which shall be otherwise legally 
taxed upon satisfactory evidence thereof under oath. 

Sec. 1 Chap. 58 Pub. Stat. 
The exact meaning of this Chapter we believe to be: The 
selectmen shall determine the present worth, the profit of use and 
benefit, that is naturally, ordinarily produced during the year 
preceding the first day of April, and capitalize it into money at a 
uniform, fixed State rate per cent. This amount multiplied by 
the town tax rate would give the specific property tax. 


16 


By this superlatively important section of our tax laws, it is 
the privilege of every subject—corporate or individual—to dem¬ 
onstrate to the appraisers, not only a complete inventory of their 
specific property, employed in the principal, and in the subordi¬ 
nate branches of their business, separately, but also to demon¬ 
strate—by offer for inspection of clear and complete debit and 
credit accounts—the Profit , for the year preceding the first day 
of April, according to the nature and purpose of their property, 
business and faculty, as ordinarily applied. Any subject neg¬ 
lecting or refusing to accept the privilege, should not then com¬ 
plain if they are opposed in their appeal from that year’s appraisal. 

Your Honors—Bor over four years, abundance of such accounts 
and evidence have been brought before the Town of Lyme, and 
citizens of the State; finally gaining an acknowledgment that 
an injustice is being done. But, notwithstanding the definite 
demands of the constitution and of this statute law to “ receive 
and consider,” the Town of Lyme, supported by the lower courts, 
have refused and disdained to openly consider such evidence and 
accounts and to do justice. Therefore, that justice may not be 
defeated, that the sylvan development of business, wealth and 
beauty be not further exploited and devastated—these further 
citations of principle and of law, recognized by our greatest politi¬ 
cal economists, jurists, and legislators, are brought to your 
attention and for your disposition or application. 

No rebuttal to such a clarification from ambiguity has yet 
appeared from any rule or policy of the State, or the courts in 
publicly recorded findings (to recent date), or in the principles 
of morality or public welfare. 

Only devious practices, and unholy desire to cover up by double 
meaning, appears. 

Such a clarification we believe to be about all that is needed for 
forest tax treatment by the legislature. 

With no desire to express undue encomium, it must be recog¬ 
nized, from close investigation that a strict surveillance must have 
been observed by some superior understanding, to have pre¬ 
served the purity of principle in the manifest strict adherence of 


17 


statutes, and of the recorded rulings (to recent date) of the Supreme 
Court in the tax laws and cases of this State. These principles 
are equally as much needed to be fully in the minds of the com¬ 
mon people. 

A befitting prayer: That a shade of the philosophy of some 
of our illustrious ancestors may descend upon this benighted 
delusion in the understanding of common people and work out 
a renascence and a progress for equality and justice: “That a 
fair field with no special favors” may be with us in fact. 

Money at interest or in business intangibles of any kind should 
be subject to the same final results; not for direct revenue, but 
by making the use a “proper use and benefit.” 

Unearned increment does not ordinarily abide with predial 
wealth held for natural development, of pfoduce. Natural 
growth or increase is “reasonable, and proper, use and benefit;” 
and cannot be truly denominated “predatory wealth” or be 
declared in “unreasonable restraint of trade.” 

True, fixed, natural principles of justice make up the component 
elements of good constitutions. If such principles honestly and 
truly applied are not adequate as a guide to justice, what lies 
outside but an unbounded wilderness of chaos and discord? 
The just principle that “no person shall be denied the equal 
protection of the laws” is passive. Shall be denied! The “pro¬ 
tection” must be asked for, it must be known how to ask for it— 
with the common people here lies the obstacle, complicated and 
expensive beyond their ability—or no denial, it will be decreed, 
is necessary; and the originally intended operation of the true 
principle (it is no fault of the principle) may very often be de¬ 
feated. Principle is not created or spoken out of existence by 
human agency, but it is an everlasting property inherent in the 
nature of things; sometimes hard to find, possibly lost sight of, 
and often suppressed. 

This principle of equality is framed in the New Hampshire 
Constitution. “There shall be a new valuation of estates once 
in five years at least, in order that public assessments may be made 
with equality.” “Equality” demands that no person or estate 
2 


18 


be re-re-valued by taking in the representative—the rent or use of 
houses, the sales-book footings of merchants, mechanics or manu¬ 
facturers, or the produce of the land. Radically, is this con¬ 
stitutional principle of equality violated if, from any cause, only 
one kind of an estate—for instance an estate having trees its 
only representative—is so re-re-valued? Again the constitu¬ 
tion says the assessments must be “ reasonable and proportional/ 1 
and again must lay upon each member of the community his 
proportional share of the expense; again, no tax shall be estab¬ 
lished, fixed, laid or levied, for any pretext * * whatsoever without 
the consent of the people or their representatives in the legis¬ 
lature. Hence property is not to be taxed unless specified by the 
legislature. 'Real estate is liable/ not bound only in equity, 
to be taxed. All thinking, understanding people must, and do 
acknowledge that it is not just or equitable to tax trees. 

The legislature has named the real estate appurtenances that 
are to be taxed, viz: buildings, mills, carding machines, factory 
buildings and machinery, wharves, ferries, toll bridges, locks and 
canals, and aqueducts. 

Had there been other appurtenances to be taxed why were 
they not named in this list or specified by some special law? 
Why were not forests and undeveloped waterpowers named? 
The principle of equal protection that gives the owner of a house 
the use of it, or to the merchant the advantage of his business, 
must needs apply to the person who invests his means in land, 
and waits with no income and advantage at all, for years, paying 
yearly the tax on the land, to take his chances of receiving a three 
to possible five per cent advantage sometime in the future. 

"To tax the representative when the property producing that 
representative is taxed, is taxing a mere shadow.” How can 
more than equality be asked? Equality means equality, and if 
injustice is done, it must be in the process practiced, and that 
is what needs amending. 

Justice cannot rightfully be defeated by juggling with generic 
or ambiguous words or phrases; or by tampering with the prin¬ 
ciple of human rights as laid in our Constitution. Every sub- 


19 


ject is entitled to language of clear and specific meaning. The 
subject is to have the benefit of any doubt. Cooley, p. 267, 268, 
269. 

The word ‘land’ has a generic definition, covering and includ¬ 
ing every species of things pertaining to the surface area; such a 
definition is ambiguous and not specific. 

The word ‘property/ as now generally and erroneously under¬ 
stood to be a thing, instead of a quality, is also generic or ambig¬ 
uous for, how can it be known to what such understanding of 
the word property relates? 

There is a particular desire to know, by what rule of the State, 
the sale or gross value of trees—that always distinguishable, 
separable, re-present-ative, developing, use and benefit, compiled 
expense part of the specific land, is bound to be included with 
the value of such land, for taxing purposes; while, in no case, is 
such treatment required by law—by written statute. 

In the year 1907 a warranty deed of lands in the town of Lyme, 
N. H., was given and recorded to contain 77 acres, together with 
all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belonging, for 
our only proper use and benefit forever. 

Notwithstanding this warranty given, the town of Lyme have 
charged against this property a burden of tax such that we are 
not only deprived of the use and benefit guaranteed to us, but 
are destined surely to have our estate carried heavily into debt, 
if such a tax is supported. In effect, they are charging against 
our said estate, not only a tax upon the basic value, the land, but 
in addition are annually charging a tax upon the aggregate amount 
of the gross income, or representative of the land, for all past 
years of development, increased by each year’s interest increment 
together with all other expenses which must necessarily be in¬ 
cluded in the selling value; and to this must be added a tax 
upon the only true gross receipts —the logs at harvest time, 

WHILE NO OTHER INDUSTRY IN OUR STATE IS BEING SO TAXED. 

We are asking for no exemption, or unequal favors at all: We are 
asking to be taxed on the true value. Cooley says, no definite 
rules for ascertaining true value have been laid down outside of 


20 


statutes. Cooley, p. 412. Statutes seem to provide well de¬ 
fined rules. Let it be retained firmly in mind, that this whole 
subject and matter is in relation to the true taxing value, and no 
other value, except to show contrast, subservient to reason and 
to New Hampshire’s constitution and laws. We hold that, under 
a consideration of taxation, “true value” must mean “true 
taxing value,” which would be in no way synonymous with the 
true selling or market value, unless an equal and just burden, 
by each, would be laid. 

(A subject is an adjunct throughout a treatise.) 

A forest, on land, is the only representative, and to tax the 
representative, when the property itself is taxed, is taxing a 
mere shadow. Cooley, p. 225 3-4. 

It is a fundamental maxim in taxation that the same property 
(quality) shall not be subject to a double tax payable by the 
same party, either directly or indirectly. Cooley, p. 227 1-4. 

To tax one person or subject of taxation twice, while other 
subjects are taxed but once, Cooley believes to be wholly inad¬ 
missible by any constitution requiring equality, p. 221 3-4, p. 
225 1-4. 

To figure to the mortgagee of forest land an interest income of 
five per cent., subject to no tax whatever, either upon the prin¬ 
cipal investment or the interest increment, as allowed by public 
Act 1911 in amendment of Chap. 55, Pub. Stat., and at the same 
time requiring forest land to stand a tax upon an appraisal cov¬ 
ering the basic value of the land, with its representative or gross 
receipts, periodically piled on and always retained, forming a 
cumulative mass to be repeatedly levied upon, is a condition of 
things that, in relation to which, it may be well to call for a con¬ 
stitutional consideration. 

Were it apparent that there has ever been a consideration of 
this tax delusion embraced in a court ruling and conforming to 
the constitutional requirements, or were it evident that the aver¬ 
age citizen and the appraisers have a correct understanding— 
an attempt to deal with so technical a subject at this time might 
not have been made. But these conditions do not appear to be, 


21 


and hence, from an honest and not entirely selfish motive we 
attempt in a limited way to draw attention to such evidence as 
appears true in support of justice, in the interpretation of the 
construction of statutes as they relate to this subject. 

“The word land, lands or real estate (generic) includes tene¬ 
ments, hereditaments, and all rights thereto and interests therein” 
(all sorts of qualities—properties). It does not seem difficult 
to see that the hereditaments, rights and interests may be of 
value as hereditaments or in the support of an execution, and 
yet not be of value for other purposes. Some may be “liable— 
equitably bound”—to pay a direct tax; while others may not be 
equitably bound—that is, liable to be taxed at all, directly. In¬ 
complete developments of any kind, such as unfinished buildings, 
undeveloped mines, water-power, factories, forests, or other 
crops, would be hereditaments, would be real estate held by a 
collector for a just tax levied upon the basic real estate, or held to 
satisfy an execution, but should not and we believe could not be 
appraised as property, quality, of a taxing value; for such heredi¬ 
taments stand only for a compilation of expenses; they stand for 
unfinished business, representative, with no income only in antici¬ 
pation, AND THEIR TAX LIES IN THE BASE UPON WHICH THEY 

stand. This is not exemption. In relation to these principles, 
Chief Justice Doe has said in his supreme court rulings, State v. 
Express Co., 60 N. H., 219, 244, 245: “To impose a tax on gross 
receipts is in no sense a tax on property, or on polls or estate. 
It does not regard the capital invested, the expenses incurred, 
or the losses sustained. And if, by any process of reasoning, 

IT COULD BE HELD A TAX ON PROPERTY, THE TAX SO IMPOSED IS 

not proportional and reasonable. It is based, not on valua¬ 
tion, but on business; not on the amount of capital invested, not 
on net profits, but on gross receipts. The gross receipts (sale 
value) of one company or enterprise may be small and the net 
profits large, while of another the gross receipts may be large 
and the profits small, or there may be no profits at all. The 
idea of proportional and reasonable or just and equal taxation, is 
founded on the declaration in the bill of rights, that every member 


22 


of the community is bound to contribute his share in the expense 
necessary to ttfe protection of his property. This proportion is 
wholly destroyed by fixing a tax upon value on one kind of prop¬ 
erty and a tax on gross receipts upon another. If the legisla¬ 
ture could legally enact a statute placing a tax on gross receipts, 
(or sale value) there is nothing to prevent them effectually de¬ 
stroying any business which they chose.” How long could the 
mechanic, the merchant or the manufacturer survive if their 
gross receipts or the representative of their capital business were 
entered into their taxing appraisals? How, then, with such a 
law not reasonably conceivable to apply to these industries, can 
it be made to “proportionally and reasonably” apply to the for¬ 
ester, or farmer whose land is his stock in trade, and the growth 
of the crop or forest his gross receipts or its representative value? 
To impose upon the forester a practice of adding the representa¬ 
tive value to the value of his land, and holding them there, form¬ 
ing a cumulative mass upon which to make repeated increasing 
assessments, seems to be a proceeding remarkable indeed con¬ 
sidering the enlightened understanding to be gained from the 
foregoing rulings. This whole subject seems to be reducible to 
one question: Can one class of property be re-taxed upon 

ITS REPRESENTATIVE VALUE WHILE OTHER CLASSES ARE NOT SO 

taxed? The answer appears to be constitutional and self- 
evident. The natural and inherent conditions attending the 
development of forest upon land held by title and paying a public 
tax, inevitably causes them to stand representing gross receipts 
or the gross benefits, or gross value, or the business. These 
natural conditions must, therefore, stand paramount to any 
statute law or court decree. 

This all relates, also, to an interpretation of the construction 
of all just statutes under our form of government, in relation to 
this subject, for it relates to universally fixed principles. It re¬ 
lates to the meaning of the word “liable” in New Hampshire Pub. 
Stat. Chapter 55, Sect. 2. “Peal estate is ‘liable’ to be taxed.” 
The standard dictionaries say that liable means bound in equity, 
hence quality in real estate or its representatives, whether repre- 


23 


sented by forests, gross receipts, developing structures, or unfin¬ 
ished enterprises or business of any kind, is not taxable except in 
justice, in equity. It relates also to Chap. 58, Sect. 1 in defining 
that the words “taxable property” do not mean and cannot in¬ 
clude gross receipts or the representative of the property, or any¬ 
thing else that could not be taxed justly. It relates to Chapter 
58, Sect. 2, which gives the right of request or agreement by indi¬ 
viduals to have separate interests in real estate taxed to them 
separately; seeming to imply that without such an agreement the 
levy could not be divided, but would need to fall upon the 
property in the basic real estate:—the land. In either event it 
does not imply that any additional valuation is to be placed, 
except in conformity with the constitution as it must be inter¬ 
preted. 

Chap. 61, Sect. 21, provides that any buildings or forests stand¬ 
ing upon land owned by another person may be taken by the 
collector as real estate for the purpose of collecting a just tax. 
But it does not provide that they can be entered into the appraisal 
by the assessors; this appears to be admitted by the section, for 
it definitely limits its force and application to the collection of 
taxes as provided for by Chapters 60 and 61; and therefore in no 
way having to do with the assessment of taxes except by impli¬ 
cation, and this would be, that they are not so treated outside 
these chapters. 

Where in our laws or court rulings can evidence be produced 
to show that gross receipts or representatives of capital can 
legally be entered into taxing appraisals of the capital to be 
levied upon; whether they arise from the business progress of 
the merchant, the mechanic, the forester, the farmer, the corpora¬ 
tion or from any kind of a just and honorable property industry. 
Until such evidence and law is produced it seems to be entirely 
within the bounds of reason to discredit such appraisals for levy¬ 
ing taxes; to discredit the idea that the constitution must be 
amended before we can do away with such unjust and, we be¬ 
lieve, unlawful assessments. It is more apparent that, not only 
our constitution, but our whole idea of governmental equality 


24 


needs to be changed before such taxing proceedings can be en¬ 
forced by law; and then they could not be supported by any 
principles of justice. 

It does not seem to be a question entering into this legal 
analysis or into a consideration by the assessors, whether any 
particular line of business, after paying a just tax according to 
its basic true value, is made to return a large or small profit; for 
the conditions which determine a profit or a loss are tackled by 
human effort and business skill, and regulated by the law of 
supply and demand, and open to the business competition of 
any and all (unreasonable monopoly excepted). 

* A frequent recurrence to the fundamental principles of the 
constitution and a constant adherence to justice, moderation, 
temperance, industry, frugality, and all social virtues, are 
indispensably necessary to preserve the blessings of liberty 

* and good government. The people ought, therefore, to have 
a particular regard to all those principles in the choice of their 

* officers and representatives; and they have a right to require of 
their lawgivers and magistrates an exact constant observance of 

* them in the formation and execution of the laws necessary for 

* the good administration of government. 

N. H. Bill of Bights Art. 38. 

When land purchased of the United States or of the State has 
been paid for, or when a right to a title has been acquired, it is 
proper to tax the 'party who is contemplating equity at leastf for 
the land as land, Cooley, p. 367 3-4. 

Wisdom is Godly, Ignorance is Sin. We, as a people, should 
not too much incline to consider that “ where ignorance is toler¬ 
able it is folly to make wise”; especially if the ignorance is in the 
makeup of someone else and we may be profiting by it. We know 
it is hard to lose revenue even for justice. 

The question of soldiers' exemptions was not introduced into 
this case by the principal plaintiff, and we have no particular 
interest in it and call for no findings upon it. 


25 


EQUITY. 

Timber lots sell for more than the appraised value together 
with the farm lands from which they were sold. This fact does 
not prove that the timber lot has not paid more than its share 
of tax. 

A 100 acre lot of farm lands, at a first cost, and a perpetual 
tax appraisal of $500 or $5 per acre, sells off 50 acres of timber, 
60 years old for $4,000; this is eight times the tax appraisal of 
the whole farm; but the 50 acres of timber has cost $6,187.65 in 
interest and taxes. An annuity of $1 for 60 years at 5 per cent, 
in arrears, amounts to $353.58. 

A 2 per cent, tax and a 5 per. cent, interest expense upon the 
100 acre lot, makes a yearly expense of $35 or $17.50 for each 
fifty acres: $17.50 multiplied by $353.58 gives $6,187.65, cost of 
holding the 50 acres in timber, and showing a loss of $2,187.65 
on the timber lot; two-sevenths of which results are made up of 
tax costs. 

The other 50 acres are rented for $.60 per acre, $30 for the lot 
yearly; this pays the taxes and interest, and leaves a neat yearly 
income of $12.50, multiplied by $353.58 gives a neat gain in the 
60 years of $4,419.75; a difference in favor of the 50 acres rented 
land of $6,607.40. 

These figures may seem surprising, but they are open to the 
deliberate criticism of all. The timber will be taxed again 
when cut. The income from the rented land is put where the 
assessors do not often find it. 

Can it be denied that the timber lot has paid more than its 
part of the tax? 


\ 


26 


TO SHOW THE RESULT OF MAKING THE SELLING 
PRICE THE TAXING APPRAISAL. 

Attention is called to a condition of affairs now in progress 
and under contention in a certain town in the State of New 
Hampshire. 

In the year 1907 a non-resident purchased lands recorded to 
contain 77 acres; about 40 acres of this land is covered with 
pines close around 24 years old; the balance of the lot is culled, 
and open hardwood lands; all lying back on a mountain as wild, 
or common lands. 

The estate from which these lands were sold, was, at the 
next appraisal reduced in valuation $700; at the same time the 
purchase of the non-resident was advanced to $2,500. 

We are not only discussing directly the righteousness of this 
individual rise of $1,800, but, with a view to bringing out a true 
understanding of a matter, believed to be of the greatest impor¬ 
tance to all New England, not only now, but especially important 
in its results to the next generation; we wish to show what such 
an appraisal will figure to be. The selectmen of the town make 
such an appraisal because they understand it to be approximate 
to the selling price; carrying the principle of making the yearly 
increasing cost, or selling price, the increasing tax appraisal, for 
36 years, which time will carry the growth to the 60 year age, 
and a result showing a cost of $28,559 for the 77 acres is made to 
appear. 

4 his result is obtained by compounding the present appraisal 
($2,500) at 7 per cent., 2 per cent, for tax rate and 5 per cent, for 
interest rate; there should be at least 2 per cent, added for other 
contingent expenses, but it is not done in these computations. 

The $28,559 cost would need to be the selling price for the 
said non-resident, at the end of the 36 years, and just get his 
money back, with no pay for any other expense, after these 
years of waiting, but for interest and tax expenses. 

It is an extra good natural forest growth of pine that will 
produce 40 m. ft. per acre at 60 years of age; the 40 acres of pine 


27 


would yield 1,600 m. ft.; at $6 per m. stumpage, shows $9,600, 
allow $800 for open and hardwood lands, and $10,400 appears to 
be the amount that could be realized; a loss of $18,159. A 
Socialist would make no demand like this. While the non¬ 
resident’s purchase of mountain land lying common, one-half of 
which is open or culled over hardwood land is appraised $32.50 
per acre, it can be seen by looking upon the town records that a 
resident, holding 110 acres, lying adjacent to aforesaid lands, 
and more than one-half of which is covered with pine of the 
same class, and the balance good, well located farm lands, with 
buildings, appraised at $10 per acre. 

When the 77 acres were purchased, it was expected they 
would be taxed as such lands had heretofore been, and as they 
could afford to be taxed, else you may be assured the selling price 
at the time would have been small. Cooley, p. 420. 

Neither will nature increase or diminish the yearly quality 
of usefulness, of any kind of producing, specific property one 
whit, because the selling price is artificially large or small by 
reason of the varying artificial necessity circumstances, or, to 
satisfy the ambitious speculative desires of anyone; made possible 
by neglect of a national law to specifically define and enforce the 
adjective “proper ” as used in our title deeds—“ pro per” use 
and benefit”; to be kept within the per cent, benefit of ‘propriety’, 
by the properly regulated prices of the produce, to the public. This 
may be denominated ideal, but it is along this line that social 
justice and peace is to be reached; this is not socialism any 
more than were the utterances of Edmund Burke in the British 
Parliament, in 1775 in relation to the rights of the American 
Colonies. 

The true, practical, effectual significance of conservation, 
we believed to be the application of intelligent economy; appli¬ 
cable with propriety to every condition and position in life. Its 
field of application is world-wide, and its consummation must 
needs lead to wealth in Nature’s desirable productions. Forest 
conservation needs our immediate attention. New England 
without forests becomes desolate, like the northern Tundras, 


28 


without birds, without beauty, without water-supply, and with¬ 
out human beings except in the large towns, along the through 
lines of railroads, where faculty salaries may be obtained, and, 
since about 1789 made exempt from tax, while the schools and 
colleges, for giving the faculty, are made a heavy burden upon 
the tangible property holders; and who at the same time are 
not able to have a voice even in the common English education 
of their own children;* and who are compelled by the brother¬ 
hoods, unions, etc. (made up of the salaried faculties) to give 
such hours, and such salaries, as they may dictate; making such 
positions so desirable that no intelligent person is content to 
stay in the country and follow a natural, producing occupation 
(skinning processes may be excepted when ambition or necessity 
leads to effort); hence, the high cost of living, and the waning 
country vitality. 

There is a repeated call to observe the ancient Cause—de¬ 
scending from pre-historic times down through the Roman law, 
to the “English Declaration of Rights,”presented to, and accepted 
by the Prince and Princess of Orange, along with the Crown to 
the throne of England in 1689; subsequently revived and more 
comprehensively treated by Rousseau, Voltaire, Dumont, Diderot, 
and other French philosophers; finally modified to a Bill of 
Rights, granting a “Fair field and no special favors”; trans¬ 
planted into the constitutions of the American colonies and 
states by the efforts and aid of Lafayette, Thomas Paine, and the 
conscientious French people; but finally involving their own 
country in a terrible revolution. 

In General Court convened in New Hampshire on the 4th of 
January 1833, it was enacted that the Selectmen or Assessors 
of the several towns shall appraise all ratable estate (taxable 
property) at its full and true value in money. 

Previous to 1833 the General Court fixed the taxing value in 
things according to the gross value of the productions; instead 
of according to the net profits—the “true value.” This difference 
between gross value and true value was, evidently, the cause 

*See Extract, Page 51, H. C. Morrison. 


29 


of the act of 1833, which act appears to be closely in accord with 
exact fairness to all, so far as general property taxation goes. 

This act stands in our Statutes today for our use if we have the 
honesty, the moral and intellectual strength to demand and 
enforce recognition. 

We should learn to observe our own constitution before dictat¬ 
ing to our neighbors. 

We need to learn that national prosperity does not consist in 
driving mechanical appliances, and traffic in life’s necessities by 
unlawful favors to a few, to the exhaustion of Nature’s resources 
properly stored in reserve in the lands and families of the com¬ 
mon laboring people. 

True business consists in allowing the building up of rural 
homes; and not in exhausting them to add to the wealth of a 
scheming few. 

Mechanical and commercial progress, and traffic, are proper; 
but must be held within the bounds of propriety by application 
in practice of a sdund, moral, constitutional philosophy. 

The mistaken theory, “All men are born naturally free and 
equal,” must have been confused in the minds of the common 
people with the true policy of political law that all should be 
born with free and equal political opportunities to make the 
most of their own property or properties of ability—usefulness— 
in a politically fair field, granting no special favors or disfavors. 

This world-wide drama, having for its Cast:—“Nature’s first 
law, Self-preservation, Selfishness, and Survival of the fittest,” 
—-Force:—and politically, the laws of Reason, Equality, Justice, 
and Proportionality—Morality:—is being re-re-rehearsed; first 
One, being subdued, and then the Other; but, like the fabled 
Phenix, always to rise again to the fray; and which will finally 
be the conquerer remains for future ages to determine. A 
drama, not only developing species—Darwin—but having Excel¬ 
sior for its motto. 


30 


N. H. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION 1912. 

Proposed Amendments No. 3 and 5. 

3. Do you approve of empowering the legislature to specially 
assess, rate and tax growing wood and timber and money 
at interest including money in savings banks, and to im¬ 
pose and levy taxes on incomes from stock of foreign cor¬ 
porations and foreign voluntary associations and money at 
interest, except incomes from money deposited in savings 
banks in this state received by the depositors, and to gradu¬ 
ate such taxes according to the amount of the incomes, and 
to grant reasonable exemptions, with the provision that if 
such taxes be levied on incomes from stock and money at 
interest no other taxes shall be levied thereon against the 
owner thereof—as proposed in the amendment to the 
constitution? 

5. Do you approve of empowering the legislature to impose a 
tax upon the incomes of public service corporations and 
voluntary associations, in lieu of a direct tax upon their 
property—as proposed in the amendment to the constitu¬ 
tion. 


VALUE AND AMENDMENTS. 

By looking into the dictionary, it may be seen that the word 
“value” has more than one meaning: the first definition is 
“property or properties of a thing which render it useful.” From 
a history of our tax laws here in New Hampshire there can be no 
possible chance to question but this was the meaning intended 
to be used,—barring the faculty tax—in practice, until 1833. 

“By act of the eighth general assembly at Portsmouth in 1692, 
all such persons as by the advantage of their trades and arts 
(faculty) are more enabled to help bear the public charge than 
common laborers, * * * * are to be rated for returns and 

gams proportionally unto other men for the produce of their 



31 


estates.’’ Act passed April 12, 1770. “Any person’s faculty 
may be estimated ”—here was the first mistake—“by the select¬ 
men of each town at their discretion.” * * * No faculty 

tax was laid after 1789, in 'practice . By this act of 1770, and 
many others the same in principle, down to 1833, the legislature 
or council fixed values: “Orchard land, one shilling per acre, 
accounting so much orchard as will one year with another pro¬ 
duce ten barrels of cider, to be one acre; arable land, eight pence 
per acre accounting so much land as will produce twenty-five 
bushels of grain to be one acre; mowing land, eight pence per acre, 
accounting so much land as will produce one ton of hay, one 
year with another, to be one acre; pasture land, three pence per 
acre, accounting so much land as will summer a cow to be four 
acres; all mills, wharves and ferries shall be estimated at one-twelfth 
part of theirnea£ yearly value” (income). The selectmen’s duty 
was only mathematical computation. Is it not evident that the 
“property or properties of usefulness (grossly applied) was the 
basis of these assessments? A departure from the correct mean¬ 
ing of the words “true value,” in laying taxes, we believe to be 
one of the principal causes of unrest, dissatisfaction and final 
downfall of kingdoms, empires and republics, as recorded in the 
pages of history. Under ordinary natural conditions, values of 
property do not fluctuate very much, but the rate per cent, may 
rise or fall according to the changes in the sum to be raised; in 
practice when values are increased the increase touches usually 
only tangible property; but if the per cent, is increased all classes 
of taxable property must stand the increase alike; unless the con¬ 
stitution is made to contradict itself by the introduction of the 
repugnant foreign expression “specially tax,” which might be to 
especially favor or disfavor. # 

The dictionary gives another meaning to the word value:— 
“Amount obtainable in exchange”; this is plainly a selling 
value; to settle estates; to obtain all that can possibly be got 
whether constitutionally equitable or not; to the seller it yields, 
by the sale, just what he gets, no evidence at all that the thing 
sold has yielded an equal use, value, to the seller. 


32 


It is evident beyond question that this second meaning of the 
word is not suitable, and was never intended to base taxing 
appraisals upon. 

In 1833 an act was passed taking from the legislature the 
practice—down to this time—of fixing values, intended to be ac¬ 
cording to first definition of the word value; and, placing the as¬ 
sessment of taxes with the selectmen of the towns; eventually 
developing into a confusion of the meaning to be applied to the 
word “value.” And, in that confusion we still appear to exist. 
But do we need to be in this confusion, in the light of reason, and 
guided by the honest interpretation of the earlier generations? 
From 1793 to 1852 no change whatever was made in the consti¬ 
tution; forty years before and nineteen years after 1833, when the 
legislature passed the act giving the selectmen their confusion; 
and no amendment has ever been made, indicating an abandon¬ 
ment of the true value as the basis of taxation. Yet, it is being 
said, “we cannot get back to the true value without amending the 
constitution.” It has been generally supposed that practices 
must conform to the laws, and the laws conform to the constitu¬ 
tion, instead of making the constitution over to fit laws, or actual, 
or desired practices. 

If, in 1833, without amendment to the constitution , an act could 
be passed that has evidently developed in a departure from the 
indestructible fundamentals, why then can we not return to the 
constitutionally just practices without vainly attempting to 
change fundamentals? 

Any system of taxation that works out justice, equality and 
proportionality is a constitutional system; but, to tax private 
tangible property upon selling value (second definition) and to 
tax company or corporate property, as proposed by the fifth 
proposed amendment, according to the true, income or use value, 
as by the first definition of the word value, would be in the con¬ 
stitution an abomination beyond the vocabulary of common 
English to express. 

Without regard to party lines, private individual interests 


33 


demand an immediate, a political, deep consideration of these 
things,— 

Would the sculptor’s art 
On the nose of Venus 
Place a great seed wart? 


Would the statesman’s craft 
Convert the Ship of State 
Into a shapeless, shattered, worthless raft? 

Then, raise not 

Thine hand to degrade 
The purity, the righteousness, 

The blessings laid 
By our venerable forefathers, 

In the Constitution made 
Of true, natural, 

Fundamental, principles of justice. 

Obviously it is the moral and the official duty of every citizen 
to construe the meaning of the laws to agree with the require¬ 
ments of reason, equality, justice and proportionality as consti¬ 
tutional guides. To construe otherwise is to question the intelli¬ 
gence or the honesty of those who have framed the laws, and to 
impose upon all others an injustice. 

A property yielding a use or a benefit of 3 per cent, cannot 
“reasonably and proportionally” be appraised for laying an 
equal burden of tax, the same as property yielding 6 per cent.; 
and, with the proper construction, the statutes do not require it. 
The true meaning of Sect. 1 Chap. 58 Pub. Stat.: As property 
would be appraised in payment of a debt, in money; so likewise, 
shall the selectmen appraise taxable property at its (true full) 
taxing value, for taxing purposes in money, also; in no way having 
to do with sale or face values for other purposes. Tax values, 
are to lay equal burdens; sale values, are based upon the fads 

3 


34 


and fancies of ambitious and speculative minds, in which all 
properly take a part; the one should never be confounded with the 
other. 

A subject (taxation) is an adjunct throughout a treatise, and 
the subject should be strictly adhered to. 

Title Deeds guarantee to the grantee the use and benefit of the 
granted premises, to him or his, assigns, only, forever (so long as 
they stand connected as representative use or benefit). The use 
or benefit has been in times past and constitutionally must be 
at present, pre-eminent in determining the real or true value or 
taxing value, to be appraised into capital, according to that use 
and benefit, in money. The title conveys to the grantee the 
privilege to appropriate the granted premises to such lawful or 
proper (we would to corporations suggest, per cent.) use, as in 
his own judgment or ability he deems conducive to the “ enjoy¬ 
ment of life, and obtaining happiness.” Such estates, or indi¬ 
vidual units, honestly treated, form the base of a happy con¬ 
tented people and country. The statutes name only ( producing ) 
property to be taxed; the use or benefit in no case is specified to 
be included (added to); hence, trees, like other crops, being repre¬ 
sentative benefit of the pre-mised land, have not been named in 
the list of taxable appurtenances. 

The expression U true value” as often used in the tax laws, 
evidently means also, a value true to the purpose for which it is 
to be applied; and cannot tolerate in that sense a sale value, or 
a face value, to take the place of a true use, or taxing, value, for 
they are foreign, one to the other, only so far as by co-incidence, 
that they may be alike. 

September, 1912. 


35 


OPINION, OF SUPREME COURT JUSTICES, GIVEN AT 
THE APRIL TERM 1913. 

Published in the Monday, April 14, 1913, issue of Independent Statesman. 


Grafton. No. 1104. 

Walker J. The plaintiff claims that he is entitled to abate¬ 
ment of the tax assessed upon his real estate because the assessors 
included in the assessment the value of the growing wood and 
timber growing thereon. According to his theory only the value 
of the land exclusive of the wooded growth should have been 
considered by the assessors. But it is unnecessary in deciding 
what the law is upon this subject to enter upon a discussion of 
philosophical theories of how taxes ought to he imposed and raised 
or to consider what unused methods of taxation might have been 
adopted. 

The statute provides that “Real estate, whether improved or 
unimproved, and whether owned by residents or others, is liable 
to be taxed,” excepting certain classes of real estate not material 
in this case. P. S. c. 55, s. 2. As universally understood the term 
“real estate” includes growing timber. “The words 'land/ 
‘lands/ or ‘real estate’ shall include lands, tenements, and heredi¬ 
taments, and all rights thereto and interests therein.” P. S. c. 2, 
s. 21. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary it is not to 
be doubted that the legislature in declaring that real estate is 
taxable, meant property in land as thus defined and understood,* 
which includes timber until severed from the land. 

Amoskeag Mf’g Co. v. Holbrook v. Concord, 66 N. H. 562; 
Kingsley v. Holbrook, 45 N. H. 313; Abbott v. Baldwin, 61 n! 
H. 582, 585; Hodsdon v. Kennett, 73 N. H. 225. Because the 
question relates to the subject of taxation has never been held 
to be a reason for a different and more restricted definition of 

*There is no evidence the legislature did not know the meaning of the word ‘property,’ and 
of the English language. (See p. 1, 2, 21 and 22.) 


36 


“land” than is employed where the question relates to a sale or 
conveyance of the same property.* 

“ Mines and quarries though the ownership of them is severed 
from that of the surface, are taxable as real estate;f so is standing 
timber, though owned separately from the land whereon it grows. ”f 
Cooley, Taxation [3d ed. 635]. “The ownership of timber stand¬ 
ing and growing on land is an interest in the land itself, and xxx 
assessable as realty.” Fletcher v. Alcona, 72 Mich. 18, 23. It 
is held in Wilson v. Cass County, 69 la. 147, that nursery stock 
growing upon land is part of the realty and should be assessed 
with the land-t See also Pine County v. Tozer, 56 Minn. 288; 
Freeman v. State, 115 Ala. 208; Globe Lumber Co. v. Lockett, 
106 La. 414; People v. Commissioners, 82 N. Y. 459. 

As standing timber is a part of the realty for the purpose 
of taxation its value is an element to be considered in ascer¬ 
taining “the true value” of the land. The selectmen shall 
appraise taxable property at its full and true value in money ,f 
as they would appraise the same in payment of a just debt from 
a solvent debtor.” P. S. c. 58 s. I. “By our statute all real 
estate with certain specified exemptions, is liable to be taxed.” 
Nashua Savings Bank v. Nashua, 46 N. H. 389, 392. By an 
unbroken line of decisions for more than eighty years, “The consti¬ 
tution” rule of equality in taxation requires that throughout the 
same taxing district the same tax shall be laid upon the same 

♦Is it competent Statesmanship to see no difference in a ‘Sale Value’ of things (many years 
of expenses, losses, profits, necessities and sentiment)—and, True Value, of property, quality, 
(one year’s money profit] capitalized? 

+If not ‘severed or separated’ from the land, are not held by Cooley to be, or to have, of 
themselves, direct taxable property. 

JNursery Stock, the same as all products, is from the quality “property” of the land; and, in 
all cases a ‘part’ of the realty. To be taxed according to [not on, or added to] amount of pro¬ 
duced yearly profit, of the present worth of one year’s growth. Compare with—Kennard v. 
Manchester, 68 N. H. 61;—In this city Kennard case the court declares in effect that the provi¬ 
sion of our title deeds granting the‘use and benefit of the premises to the grantee only, forever,_ 

means just what it says; and, is supported.’ 

In this private individual country case:—it is found that the use and benefit and expenses 
of the premise must be indefinitely, year after year, piled on as an integral part of the premise. 
[A monstrous absurdity.] Appears to be a dual policy. To certain classes rendered statutorily 
and justly:—to another class, robbery without principle, without moral, legal, or intellectual 
support. 


37 


amount of property , so that each man’s taxable property shall bear 
its due portion of the tax according to its value ” Opinion of the 
Justices, 4 N. H. 565, 568. “The share which every person is 
bound to contribute for the protection in the enjoyment of his 
life, liberty, and property, to which he is entitled [Bill of rights, 
Art. 12] is his proportional part of the expenses of such protec¬ 
tion according to the amount of his taxable* estate.” Amos- 
keag Mf’g Co. v. Manchester, 70 N. H. 336, 344. These 
views were further elaborated in the opinion of the Justices 
given in reply to a request by the House of Representatives 
of 1911, reported in House Journal PP. 527-539. 

The plaintiff’s timberland is his taxable estate, and its “full 
and fair value in money” is not ascertained by excluding from 
the computation the value of the timber. The idea that it is 
excluded as a matter of law in this state is a novel one, which 
in view of the long-continued and unquestioned understanding 
and practice in the assessment of taxes to the contrary, would 
require a legislative act or a constitutional amendment, or both, 
to justify the judiciary in declaring it to be law.f § That the value 
of the standing timber is an essential element of the value of 
the land supporting it was recognized and assumed, as an uni¬ 
versally conceded fact, in the recent opinion of the justices 
rendered to the present house of representatives upon the 
question whether an act exempting from taxation standing 
wood and timber to the extent of twenty-five percent of its true 
value, would be constitutional. Our reply was in the negative. 
It must be taxed at its full value as a part of the real estate, t 
The plaintiff’s position as a proposition of existing law is unten¬ 
able. 

Exception overruled. 

All concurred. § 

♦“Property at (according to) its true value” {profit.) 

fUnjust ‘practices’ can never make a wrong right. ‘‘Abuses of power and violations of rights 
derive no sanction from time or custom.” “Certainly, the court cannot take judicial cogni¬ 
zance of it.” [Cooley 2nd. Ed. p. 129. Chief J. Bigelow.] 

{Appears to be a crisscross misapplication, and understanding of 'true value,’ and ‘selling 
value’; of things, and the ‘property’ of, things. 

§See Humanized Law p. 52, 53. Ante p. 33. 


38 


Cross belts make the shaft turn in the opposite direction. 

The White man said to his Indian companion:—I’ll have the 
goose and you have the crow, Or, You have the crow and I’ll 
have goose. That ‘Or’l That, 1 Though ’! 

All ambiguous snarls of cheap misconstruction, or misappli¬ 
cation of language, in word, or meaning, from whatever source 
they come, should be spurned with contempt and derision, and 
treated by the good natural, intelligent sense of the people, as 
justice demands; to avoid the devastation of agricultural life, 
and the great wail of ‘High cost of living.’ 

The pursuit of this subject is not intended to suggest Art. 10 
1 Bill of rights’; but, to revive an understanding of the everlasting 
natural principles of justice , laid by our venerable forefathers 
at the base of government. 

To disenthrall from an imposition, which evidently through 
the centuries of the past to the close of the Dark Ages, was a 
running companion with religious ignorance and credulity;* 
to a limited number at least, understood by the founders of our 
government by aid of French philosophers; and the religious 
impositions effectually corrected. But this Issue, by the people, 
in detail, misunderstood, and the folly, perpetuated. 

As hereditary absolute monarchical government is an unnatural 
extreme of inherited license, therefore, by human selfish pro¬ 
pensities, likely to become despotic and tyrannical, so, likewise, 
Supreme judicial authority—subject to the same propensities— 
artificially created and placed for life above and beyond effectual 
restraint by the common people, is also likely to become either 
inherently an usurper, or become the powerful agent of class 
interests; which develops conditions not one whit better than 
a ducal, lordly, aristocracy, or a Russian bureaucracy, as 
satellites to an unlimited monarchy: —An antithesis of demo¬ 
cracy ! 

Read the history of nations! Read the ‘Rights of Man.’ 
[Truth Seeker Co., 62 Vesey Street, N. Y.—price 25 cents.] 
And, who will say man is not according to Darwin’s Theory? 

*See appendix. > 


39 


Who ever discovered an usurper or a despot who would make 
a full, open, honest effort to educate the common people; to give 
them a full insight into the underlying policy of some of their 
decrees? 

An exploited people and a devastated country is quickly the 
result in this headlong, selfish, mechanical, but not morally 
'philosophic age. 

Placing the press in a condition of obligation to any dividend, 
class, or anticonstitutional interest, by total exemption from 
any part of the public burden, can never tend to enlighten the 
masses. 

It is the press and the schools that moulds the minds of the 
country people; and it is fatal to their just rights to have “the 
press subsidized.” 

The more chaotic the understanding of the common people, 
the less practical and methodical in philosophic detail is the 
foundation of their education laid in the public schools, the more 
likely they are to “Know beet roots, instead of square or Greek 
roots”; and the more likely to be unable to effectually figure out 
their own rights by systematic, natural principles. 

As universal wisdom, honor, and education is the Godly power 
to rule the world in justice:—how is it to be obtained? 

Is it by distorting, ignoring or suppressing the natural ever¬ 
lasting principles of justice that have been long and thoroughly 
discussed, and laid as the natural rights of man at the base of 
our government? 

Is it by dropping the natural classic philosophy of the common 
English branches, from the instruction in the farmer’s, the 
countryman’s school, and substituting therefor a policy directing 
the pupil to depend upon his own unsupported judgment? N.o 
two judgments are alike with children [say nothing about High 
Courts], without a philosophic, a methodical guide, a constitution, 
a rule; withholding from the pupils, the dearly bought, and long 
suffering experiences of all past ages; that, little by little, step 
by step, have led up through bad judgment, sacrifice, and blood¬ 
shed, to a discovery of the principle, and the analysis to be applied 


40 


by a prescribed mode [a rule], to accomplish in practice the prob¬ 
lem, the Rights of man, the constitution. 

A compelled return to individual, ignorant judgment it was, 
that defeated the completion of the tower of Babel, and the direct 
ascent of the human race into heaven. 

The remedy obviously must consist in the restoration of an 
analytic, philosophic, methodical system of detailed home and 
home-school instruction in all the principles of the Common 
English branches, and of their country's political constitution; 
defining property, and living value of things. 

The “study of beet roots" will come intelligently later in 
life; if, the industry of growing heets is not cheated out of its true 
value — profits. 

The building of expensive, magnificent school buildings of 
many apartments for accommodating the different grades, each 
having a teacher disciplined to heterogeneously (‘the pupils' 
own judgment,' in common English), dabble in the fiction, in¬ 
dustrial and theoretical matters of the age; necessitating super¬ 
intendence by school boards, supervisors, vigilant committees, 
medical treatment, and amenable to a State superintendent 
with deputies, each and all drawing salaries from the people:— 
is, beyond question, an improvement so far as the comforts of 
the teachers, and sustenance to numerous superintendents, build¬ 
ing committees, servants, etc., are concerned; but, judging from 
the results of the policy being applied to instructing the children 
of the masses, and the results of the burdens (unequally) im¬ 
posed upon the masses, these proceedings (without doubt largely 
brought about through the college faculty'), are made to subserve 
the policy of a few “Kings of Commerce" who have been charged 
with having an understanding that the common people are, or 
have been getting too much fundamental, practical, analytic 
education:—introduces a consideration of a condition; and a 
question of most vital importance to the masses, especially to 
the country people whether all this is not to them really a serious 
disadvantage, and rankest imposition. 


41 


Has it not in history been, beyond question, one of the greatest 
efforts and achievements of an “ Unscrupulous Few,” to keep 
their subjects or supporters in ignorance, that they may not be 
able to break their bonds of slavery? ‘That they may not reach 
Heaven by a united common—fundamental education—lan¬ 
guage.’ 

It consists also in a press, not only free, but provided to give 
all instruction in detail possible, to assist the common people 
to thoroughly understand the true principles, and their practical 
application; that they may intelligently demand, and have an 
effective voice, ip the interpretation of their own work, their 
own constitution. As constitutions are constructed by, and 
for, themselves—-the people ought surely to know, and have the 
right to directly [under the simplest, briefest, deliberative, justi¬ 
fiable regulation possible] to say just what their work means; 
and to reserve the power to impeach and dismiss violations or 
violators of their constitutional rights. 


July, A. D. 1913. 

President Jackson in his first annual message to Congress, in 
1829, said: “Experience proves, that, in proportion as agents 
to execute the will of the People are multiplied, there is danger 
of their wishes being frustrated. Some may be unfaithful: all 
are liable to err. So far, therefore, as the People can, with con¬ 
venience, speak, it is safer for them to express their own will. ,f 
(Understandingly.) “Upon this country, more than any other, 
has, in providence of God, been cast the special guardianship 
of the great principle of adherence to written constitution. If 
it fail here, all hope in regard to it will be extinguished. That 
this was intended to be a government of limited and specific, 
and not general powers, must be admitted by all! And it is our 
duty to preserve for it the character intended by its framers. 
If experience points out the necessity for an enlargement of these 
powers, let us apply for it to those for whose benefit it is to 
be exercised; and not undermine the whole system by a resort to 
overstrained constructions . ” 


42 


The importance and truth of these observations make it plainly 
a duty resting upon each and everyone to make an effort to bring 
about permanent domestic peace, and natural, reasonable pros¬ 
perity, by first dropping out all unimportant, personal, party 
jargon, and then openly, honestly and intelligently adhering 
in practice to the true principles; seeing to it that our welfare 
is not defeated by an excessive number of deficient, irresponsible 
(should be) servants; seeing to it that the minority is not imposed 
upon either by class, corporation, company or individual, forcing 
a donation (an exemption) as a tax. Donation is free to all, 
but compulsory upon no one. A partial gift and a tax, do not 
amalgamate. To the executor of human enterprise, greater 
benefits naturally accrue than to any one else. Seeing to it that 
public prosperity is not defeated by private options or control 
of natural resources beyond the “proper use and benefit,” and 
share, of, and from, the public domain; declared to be an income 
of three thousand dollars yearly without national interference. 

In attaining this allowance (which seems approximately fair) 
in each commonwealth make it understood by all, that practices 
are to conform to statutes, statutes to constitutions, and consti¬ 
tutions to the everlasting principles of reason, equality and justice. 


43 


STATE, MONEY AND INDUSTRIALS. 

A State is fixed, it has boundary lines beyond which neither 
area or interstate jurisdiction can extend; within its area natural 
resources have been more or less bountifully provided; to receive 
the ‘use and benefit 7 of these natural resources, money—a cir¬ 
culating medium—is found convenient to have. 

But, like filling a dish with water, which overflows when full—■ 
so likewise the state overflows when its natural resources have 
been converted into money, to go beyond the necessary supply 
to operate the State’s natural resources. 

Inevitably the surplus must overflow. It would be of no use 
to the state or to anyone to have it hoarded and lying idle; hence 
like water, it takes its natural course and finds its useful position 
somewhere else. 

The more nearly exhausted the natural resources—land, fer¬ 
tility, forests, etc., or fully developed water powers, railroads, 
and other industrials—the less domestic demand there is for 
money and the greater the overflow. 

The 'perpetual thrift of a state must depend upon the produc¬ 
ing capacity conservatively treated. 

Now what about jurisdiction? There can be no question but 
that state jurisdiction extends to the boundaries of the state; 
but there is a question about its reaching beyond. Upon what 
is execution to be served, to collect a tax upon property of any 
kind located beyond the boundaries of the state, to collect a per 
cent, of that which is costing the public in the state nothing? 
How can the public, more than an individual, be entitled to a 
part of that which is no expense to the public? 

The dish can have to do with the water that is in it, but it 
can have nothing to do with that which has flowed away. The 
property, the quality of usefulness, whether in real estate, fac¬ 
ulty, money or any other thing within the State, is bound to divide 
the profit from such quality, with the public each year—from the 
representative phantom ‘money/ by withholding from its inter¬ 
est, the average tax rate. 


44 


Money at interest in the state must be taxed; but must it be 
taxed for direct revenue? Experience has proved that it can¬ 
not be effectually done in that way because money is intangible 
and easily secreted, and is secreted in our state to the extent of 
hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

We might as consistently attempt to collect from a vanishing 
phantom; thereby throwing all other business affairs out of har¬ 
monious justice. 

Better to curtail and regulate the phantom’s rights and 
powers, and then allow him to stock the country unmolested. 

Railroads are to be taxed in proportion to the (legal) tax of 
all other (taxable) property in the state:—Young, J., Railroad 
v. State, Dec. Term, 1912. 

If, hundreds of thousands of dollars of other taxable prop¬ 
erty (interest money) in the state escapes, then, in that case 
the railroads cannot be,—and have not been required by the 
Supreme Court to be—holden to stand a tax upon a full ap¬ 
praisal of their property. As a result our farmers and tangible 
property holders,—beyond whose ability or understanding it 
is, to call for the “Equal protection of the law”—are made 
to pay the public burden that the railroads and money are 
escaping. 

After the act of 1833, erroneously developing selling prices of 
‘things/ as the basis of general private ‘property’ appraisals: 
only so long as nature’s bountiful supply of resources (the accumu¬ 
lation of all past ages) held out, could the country, agricultural 
people exist; they could not thrive as of yore. They have only 
existed with an occasional show of thrift, dependent upon an op¬ 
portunity to rob nature, within the limits of their own individual 
holdings, while the purchasing public and cities compass the 
whole world to make their purchases from. 

A rate of interest is being paid that, to effectually bring about 
justice, should be reduced, an average property tax rate, below 
moneys proper share of the profits from industrials; and then 
remove money from the list of (revenue) taxables. Then cor¬ 
porations that are ever watchful for their legal rights and advan- 


45 


tages, could not get their taxes abated because money has escaped 
taxation. 

If our state has natural resources that,—properly treated— 
may industrially yield (to cover the attending cares and risks) 
three or four per cent, more than a person gets by placing his 
money at interest, then, in that case the overflow money will be 
less, and enough will remain to develop the three or four extra 
per cent, of industrial profit. In what way could the statutory 
declaration of such principles be shown to be in violation of the 
fundamentals of the constitution? 

Your specific taxable ‘property’ is the quality of profits; to 
determine which, you are privileged by Sec. 1, Chap. 58, to pre¬ 
sent your evidence by an account, on the debtor side of which 
would be the item of interest paid, the legal rate of which being 
* * * per cent, below the “proper (legal) use and benefit ” from 

your industry; leaving you the * * * per cent, of industrial 

profit. The mortgagee would have no reason because of taxes 
to withdraw his money. This all verifies the truth that money 
is only a representative of industry —of labor —invested in and 
applied to the development of natural resources, and should take 
no greater per cent, of the industrial profit, than labor, which 
the money represents, would take. 


46 


SYNOPSIS OF GENERAL PROPERTY TAXATION. 

(Supported by some theory and considerable law) 

Tax, producing tangibles for revenue. 

Tax intangibles, by reducing their profits—rates. 

Allow industrial tangibles, at least three or four per cent, more 
rate of profit than intangibles. 

Determine profit of industrial, or faculty, above common wage , 
by taking from the credit of its account—the sum of all necessary 
expenses including the interest on the entire capital invested, at 
the intangible rate; also taxes paid for the previous year; this 
profit determined the first of April, capitalized at the rate fixed 
and allowed for industrial gain uniformly through the state gives 
the taxing appraisal of the specific property having a true value. 

The balance of profit should properly be three or four per cent, 
of (we think the total debtor side of the account properly ad¬ 
justed, including the capital invested at the start) the industrial 
factory, farm, home, etc. 

Then, a uniform, but not fixed poll tax to cover the common 
wage faculty can with justice be laid. 


OUTLINE FOR TAX ASSESSMENT OF YEAR 1913 FOR 
1914 REVENUE. 


Computed April 1, 1914. 


Business Title. Dr. 

To One Poll tax—covers common wage 
for one year. Charge to business 300 
days at $2 (not fixed) $600 

Int. on Selling Value of Stock in busi¬ 
ness << x 

“ Necessary Hired Service “ X 

Other costs allowable for the business “ X 


X 


Cr. 


$ Y 


By Family use of business products 


47 


By Rent for family 


$ Y 


“ Full receipts from salary, produce or 
service 


“ Y 


“ Standardized % of Corporate profits 
above State rate % of industrial gain 


“ Y 


Y 


Computation 


Y —X = profit-j-by State interest rate % = Capitalization or, 
true taxing value X by town tax rate % = General property 
tax. 


To Find Town Tax Rate Per Cent. 


From the revenue to be raised, subtract amount of all Polls, 
the remainder will be the sum to be raised on the property—the 
quality—the Profits, of the town. Divide the sum to be 
raised, by carry the division two places, gives the 

town rate. 

If a citizen fails to present such “evidence” of the “True 
Value,” then, obviously, it is the duty of the Selectmen to pro¬ 
ceed along this course of account according to their honest 
judgment based upon an understanding (gained in any proper 
way) of the business; the honest judgment may have a latitude 
four times the obscure facts—(distorted into the doom law). 

If the State rate per cent, is not right, then injustice will 
accrue. 


An Idea. 


From a party wishing to construct a Castle—a Monument of 
Gold—a Mother Eddy Church, way beyond a Standard of 
“Proper Use and Benefit,” demand a license fee, and then they 
must, by principle, be treated according to the money use—profits 
—property, in them. 



48 


THE PROPERTY OF TRUE VALUE IN FOREST LAND. 

Experience has shown that an average natural stand of pine 
will produce close around 36,000 feet of lumber per acre in sixty 
years; or 600 feet per year in northern New Hampshire. Stump- 
age at 80 cents per 100 feet gives $4.80 the average annual growth 
value. But, the first year’s growth must stand idle fifty-nine 
years before it can be received; the next year’s growth must 
wait fifty-eight years; and the next growth fifty-seven; and so 
on diminishing; the average time being thirty years. 

The present worth of $4.80 (one year’s growth) allowing one 
per cent, for fire loss and incidental expenses, obtainable 30 years 
hence, is 63 cents. 

Sixty-three cents appraised into capital gives $10.50 which is 
shown to be the fair, businesslike, taxing appraisal of one acre 
any time after taken possession of naturally, by pine trees. 

A one and one-half per cent, tax upon such an appraisal leaves 
the owner four and one-half per cent, (while the mortgagee gets 
five per cent.). 

Experience will show that one acre in hard wood will produce 
close around sixty cords in sixty years, or one cord per year. 
Stumpage $1.50 per cord, present worth is 19 T 7 0 cents, capitalized 
equals $3.2,?, the true taxing appraisal for one acre in hard wood. 
Location, and other conditions may modify, within reasonable, 
natural, variations. 

The selectmen shall * * * and shall receive and consider 
all evidence that may be submitted to them relative to the (true) 
value of * * * and other property * * 

[Pub. Stat. Chap. 58 , Sec. L] 


Nahum W. French. 


49 


THE OBSERVER. 

{Family Herald, February 25, 1914.) 


“According to the old saying, 'na¬ 
tions go to war in the Spring.’ What 
is to happen this Spring no prophet 
dares to say as yet. The miseries of 
the Balkan wars did not after all burn 
very deeply into the consciences 
of people. There is as much light¬ 
hearted talk of the possibility of war 
in Europe as ever, as much prepara¬ 
tion among the military and naval 
authorities, as much irresponsible, 
irritating surmising in the newspapers. 
I saw two important journals lately, 
one Russian, the other German. So 
far as the arguments carried, the 
editors of both were agreed on the 
fact that the money markets were 
straightening themselves, and that if 
cash were available, wars somewhere 
were practically certain. It has been 
evident for some time past that 
money was dominating the whole 
world of affairs, infringing upon even 
the limits ,of religion. Now it seems 
it is also able to dictate peace or war, 
and so seat itself upon the throne of 
absolute monarchy. 

The thought set me to thinking 
over the history of the ages past. 
And the retrospect brought something 
comforting to one who hopes for the 
setting in of a reign of gold which is 
not to be turned into cash, but is to 
brighten and gladden the lives of 
men. I think it is true that all 
through the past, time has hated and 
warred successfully against the uni¬ 
versal monarch! Superstition, brute 


strength, militarism, national pride, 
art, all have had their day, and come 
near to seating themselves upon the 
throne of universal rule. And just 
when they were respectively about to 
extend their several sceptres in 
sovereign majesty, there was a turn 
of the wheel of time, and a new power 
was discovered to be on the way 
towards the management of the earth. 
So will it be with the money power. 
It is not a whit more firmly entrenched 
among men than were philosophy and 
art in the day of the ancient Greeks, 
or military strength in the times of 
the Roman Empire. What has been, 
will be probably. At least that has 
been the law of life, so far as history 
teaches. As soon as cash assumes 
the supremest power, it will lose its 
authority, too, strange as it may be 
to some to anticipate a time when 
money shall not be the most impor¬ 
tant thing in all the world to a man! 


Money is not, however, the only 
great influence affecting humanity, 
or able to influence humanity. Nor 
is it the best men who are most easily 
affected by money. The great inner 
conscience of every nation is still 
most readily touched by the great 
deeds of self-sacrifice, of manly de¬ 
votion to tender ideals with love as a 
motive, rarely by the tales of huge 
fortunes built up of surpassing value. 
Nothing wounds national honor like 
stories of gains made at the expense 


4 




50 


of the big trusting public, of the rob¬ 
bery of a public treasury by those 
entrusted with its care. It is not 
merely that so much cash has been 
wickedly done away with. Men feel 
that their trust has been outraged, 
human nature revolts at the traitorous 
work of human nature against itself. 
The rascal who has plundered his 
fellows who confided in him is about 
the meanset creature in existence. 
There is absolutely no place for him 
among honorable men. 

A good many years ago my guide 
and I, when paddling up a little 
stream in the north country, one 
moonlight night, were surprised to 
meet an old beaver making his way 
up stream as hard as he could go. 
Not far behind came a whole colony 
of his fellows chasing him vigorously. 
The first one was pretty tired, and 
tried hard to dodge aside into 
cavities under the banks, or up side 
ditches. He never succeeded in elud¬ 
ing his pursuers, however, so far as we 
could see. Neither party gave us 
much attention. ‘Serve him right,’ 
said my half breed, ‘let him take his 
beating!’ 

‘What does it mean?’ I demanded. 

‘Never see a bank beaver?’ he 
bantered back. Of course, I had 
often noted the old solitaries living 
far from their kind in holes beside 
streams, and had heard the legends 
of the inhabitants that they were 
banished from their communities for 
working on Sundays. 

‘No!’ contendedmyguide, ‘thebank 
beaver stole from the family store¬ 
house. That is what they banished 
him for!’ It is not my theory, and I 


am not vouching for its truth. But 
no one who understands beavers will 
find much difficulty in believing it. 
Perhaps if we were as honest at 
bottom as most beavers, we should, 
every one of us, be just as vigilant 
and as downright in driving away 
into banishment the rascals who steal 
from the public stores. And that no 
matter what might be the colors of 
their neckties, or their politics! 


No doubt every man ought to have 
spirit enough to fight for the defence 
of his own. The law is well enough 
in its way, which is not by any means 
always the way of justice. Civiliza¬ 
tion implies law. It is the welding 
into one great unit of the strength of 
the different individuals, in order that 
it may be all the more mighty, and 
unerring. But the law has no value 
unless individuals enforce it. And 
after all, in new countries espe¬ 
cially, law rests to a large extent upon 
public opinion. That is well shown 
in Montreal, where, although there 
is a law against the disgusting habit, 
it is the commonest thing to hear 
swearing in the streets. Public opin¬ 
ion does not support the law, and 
accordingly it is not enforced. The 
same is true of the legislation against 
expectorating in public places, and 
other little vices. Surely, however, 
we are not so callous as to hold back 
from enforcing the laws against de¬ 
frauding the state! The suspicion 
of such a thing, of such an outrage 
upon the community, ought to arouse 
the fighting spirit of every man, 
worthy of belonging to the nation. 



51 


It is our money that is filched, surely 
we should have grit enough to stand 
out against it. Militarism does that 
much for us, that it teaches us to 
fight against oppression of every sort. 
Perhaps that is why wars and armies 
and navies have existed down to our 
day. We need the object lesson 
possibly, in order that we may not be¬ 
come altogether spineless, and at the 
mercy of the few daring, outstanding 
scoundrels. Even the gospel of peace 
told us to ‘fight the good fight.’ I 


firmly believe that down at the bottom 
of the refusal to grant the national 
franchise to women lies the instinc¬ 
tive fear of a growing weakening of 
our mental fibre, of what is mistakenly 
called effeminacy. And I am just 
as certain that the fear is unfounded. 
Women are even more ready than 
men to fight for their rights, and to 
resist oppression. There is little or 
no mental softness among them. In 
fact, I know a good many more 
‘mushy’ men than ‘mushy’ women.” 


EXTRACT. 

State Superintendent Henry C. Morrison Addresses Merrimack Valley 
Teachers’ Association in Manchester—Educational Interests of New Hamp¬ 
shire Considered at Length. (. Independent Statesman , Feb. 23, 1914). 


Educational Freedom. 

I have been forced after many years 
of observing the effects of the existing 
situation upon our educational de¬ 
velopment to the conclusion that 
it is my duty as your chief educational 
officer to say to you, and, wherever I 
have the opportunity, to the people 
of New Hampshire, that we cannot 
afford as a free commonwealth to 
have our educational interests gov¬ 
erned by a body of sixteen men 
voting in Boston, only one vote of 
which comes from New Hampshire 
at all and that vote in no sense re¬ 
sponsible to the people of New Hamp¬ 
shire. The fathers of this state in the 
days of their penury gave beyond 
their means that we might have a 
college in this state and they gave for 
the cause of education. But they 
did not bargain, I venture to say, for 


this sort of thing. They did not 
foresee that the time would come in 
New England when the New England 
college faculty would fear the organ¬ 
ized money power of America far 
more than the people of the New 
England states. We can well afford 
in our day to build an institution of 
our own under state control and 
drawing its support largely from 
taxation. We need an institution 
in which there shall be a place for 
every boy and girl who is able to 
make his way to college and which 
shall never dare to raise up artificial 
and arbitrary obstacles in the path¬ 
way of education. I honor the 
University of Maine for pointing out 
the way in New England, and the 
people of Maine are to be congratu¬ 
lated that their boys and girls are 
independent of an educational trust. 


52 


HUMANIZED LAW. 

(From the Warren News, October 30, 1914.) 


Washington.—The American Bar 
Association began its annual conven¬ 
tion in Washington with the Presi¬ 
dent of the United States, the Chief 
Justice and associate justices of the 
United States Supreme Court, mem¬ 
bers of the Cabinet, the diplomatic 
corps and leaders of the bar from all 
parts of the country in attendance. 
Former President Taft, who is the 
chief executive of the association, pre¬ 
sided at the opening session. Presi¬ 
dent Wilson delivered the address of 
welcome and his impromptu remarks 
were regarded by many as the most 
remarkable he has made since he 
came to Washington. 

In his introduction of President 
Wilson, Mr. Taft pledged the associa¬ 
tion’s earnest co-operation and its 
deepest personal confidence in the 
President’s ability and purpose to 
guide the ship of state safely through 
the European crisis. Mr. Taft said 
the American people were back of the 
President in his handling of the in¬ 
ternational situation, and that he had 
the confidence of the nation. 

President Wilson’s response was 
that his strength rested in the con¬ 
fidence of the people. He pleaded 
for the “humanizing of the law” in 
this time of international crisis, not 
only in respect to international law, 
but as to municipal law. 

“The opinion of the world is the 
mistress of the world; and the proc¬ 
esses of international law are the 
slow processes by which opinion 
works its will,” said the President. 


“What impresses me is the con¬ 
stant thought, that that is the tri¬ 
bunal at the bar of which we all sit. 
I would call your attention, inciden¬ 
tally, to the circumstance that it does 
not observe the ordinary rules of evi¬ 
dence, which has sometimes suggested 
to me that the ordinary rules of 
evidence had shown some signs of 
growing antique. 

“Everything, rumor included, is 
heard in this court, and the standard 
of judgment is not with regard to 
the character of the testimony but 
the character of the witness. The 
motives are disclosed, the purposes 
are conjectured and that opinion is 
finally accepted which seems to be, 
not the best founded in law, perhaps, 
but the best founded in integrity of 
character and of morals. That is the 
process which is slowly working its 
will upon the world, and what we 
should be watchful of is not so much 
jealous interests as sound principles 
of action. The disinterested course 
is always the biggest course to pur¬ 
sue, not only, but it is in the long 
run the most profitable course to pur¬ 
sue. If you can establish your char¬ 
acter, you can establish your credit. 

“What I wanted to suggest to this 
Association in bidding them very 
hearty welcome to the city is whether 
we sufficiently apply those same ideas 
to the body of municipal law which 
we seek to administer. Citations seem 
to play so much larger r61e now than 
principle. There was a time when the 
thoughtful eye of the judge rested 


53 


upon the changes of social circum¬ 
stances and almost palpably saw the 
law arise out of human life. Have 
we got to a time when the only way 
to change law is by statute? The 
changing of law by statute seems to 
me like mending a garment with a 
patch; whereas law should grow by 
the life that is outside of it. I should 
hate to think that the law did not 
derive its impulse from looking for¬ 
ward, or, rather, that it did not de¬ 
rive its instruction from looking about 
and seeing what the circumstances of 
men actually are and what the im¬ 
pulses of justice necessarily are. 

“I have in my life dealt with all 
sorts and conditions of men, and I 


have found that the flame of moral 
judgment burned just as bright in the 
man of humble life and limited ex¬ 
perience as in the scholar and the 
man of affairs. And I would like his 
voice always to be heard, not as if 
he were the voice of men in general, 
in our courts of justice, as well as 
the voice of the lawyers, remember¬ 
ing what the law has been. My hope 
is that being stirred to the depths by 
the extraordinary circumstances of 
the time in which we live we may re¬ 
cover from those depths something of 
a renewal of that vision of the law 
with which men may be supposed to 
have started out in the old days of 
the oracles, who communed with the 
intimations of divinity.” 




APPENDIX 













ADDRESS 


OF 

DR. M. F. MORRISON 

BEFORE 


THE FRIENDS OF MENTAL LIBERTY, 
AT NORTH HAVERHILL, N. H,, 


AND 


CONSTITUTION, 
RESOLUTIONS, AND BY-LAWS, 


OF 


THE MENTAL LIBERTY SOCIETY, 
AT NORTH HAVERHILL, N. H. 


BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY J. P. MENDUM. 

1846 . 









59 


DR. MORRISON’S ADDRESS. 

My Friends: —Is the object of our associating of sufficient 
importance to awaken our energies for its accomplishment? 
What is that object? The progressive improvement of the race, 
the distinguishing characteristic of humanity;—the freedom of 
science from her Procrustean mistress, superstition, and to know 
what is true and what is false by free investigation; to ascertain 
the truth as it regards a knowledge of ourselves, of our rights and 
duties, of the laws of Nature, and of the necessary attributes of 
that power which impressed those laws, not only on the universe 
but on humanity,—rendering it controllable and controlled by 
the influences which surround it. Yet truth is but an intellectual 
conception—what is it? Is it not the accordance of conclusive 
evidence with the affirmative or negative of a proposition? And 
is not all evidence conclusive when confirmed by the senses, in 
harmony with known facts, and sustained by reason? The 
grand governing motive of human action is happiness, to which 
all other motives are subsidiary. All subsidiary motives are 
formed for us by the surrounding influences; we neither create 
the influence nor the motive. 

Among the influences which exert a controlling power over the 
intellect are those of religion and education. What is religion 
(religious credulity as practiced)? Is it not a system of faith, 
predicated upon a “belief in, and homage rendered to, existences 
unseen, and causes unknown”? A system formed from the high- 
wrought visions of fancy, while science in its infancy, had not 
collated facts sufficient for a guide to reason? What are its 
effective materials? Sacred books, and a divinely appointed 
priesthood. What are its required duties? To believe in the 
exposition of the sacred books according to the whim of the 
priest that suits your fancy; to feel as those doctrines, thus 
expounded, direct you to feel; and above all, support the clergy 
for thus instructing you. To these are added, implicit faith, 
passive obedience, and non-resistance. Is not this the sum and 


60 


substance of all (artificially constructed) religion—a requisition 
of implicit faith in the fictions of the imagination? Can the 
human mind contemplate a despotism more complete, a tyranny 
more oppressive? 

What is education? Is it not implanting new ideas, or correct¬ 
ing previous ones in the mind? That the mind may be disciplined 
to the rejection of true ideas, and the reception of false, is the 
remark of common observation. Who will deny that by false 
impressions, early associations, unjust prejudices, or designing 
counsel, the mind may be led astray, and condemn and punish 
what knowledge would induce it to approve and support? The 
examples of Lycurgus and Polnotocks would be sufficient to 
illustrate the influence of education and discipline; and shall an 
agent so powerful be under the guidance of a superstition ema¬ 
nating from the wild vagaries of the imagination? 

In glancing at the religions of the world, through the mysterious 
darkness which .surrounds them, we find it difficult to discriminate 
the different shades of error which attach to each. Of all the 
systems of superstition that have agitated the world, the most 
concentrated in its theism, the most ridiculous in its ceremonials, 
and the most intolerant and sanguinary in its practices, was, 
perhaps, Judaism. In its theism it was simply the belief in 
one God, the God of War or Battles—the Lord of Hosts, and his 
prophet Moses. The temporal gratification of ambition and 
avarice, with licentious indulgence, were to be the rewards of 
its believers; and temporal calamities the punishment of its 
opposers, without any reference to a future state of existence. It 
claimed immediate revelation from their God, and consequently 
implicit belief and passive obedience to the dictates of their 
prophet. It originated, according to Manetho, with an Egyptian 
High Priest, called Osarsiph. Condemned to a state of servitude, 
he renounced his country and his gods—became the leader of a 
horde of bandit slaves—moulded them to his will, and bound 
them to his tyranny by working upon their credulity and super¬ 
stition;—and by desecrating the gods of Egypt and consecrating 
himself and his followers to the work of bloodshed, robbery, and 


murder, they became outlaws to their own country, and enemies 
to the world. 

He changed his name to Moses—retained the ceremonials of 
his former religion, and the divine order of the priesthood of which 
he was the dictator. He promised his followers, in the name of 
the God of Battles, universal empire, founded on the total exter¬ 
mination of the rest of the human race. Externally, their policy 
was intolerance and misanthropy; internally, although claimed 
to be an immediate revelation from their God, it was a blind 
obedience to a fanatical and sanguinary priesthood—to cere¬ 
monies as ridiculous as they were demoralizing—mid to doctrines 
as subversive of their own happiness and safety as they were 
inimical to the happiness and safety of others. The result was 
as might have been expected. Becoming obnoxious to all the 
surrounding nations, who found that their own existence was 
identified with their supremacy, the Jews became alternately 
the robbers and exterminators of the weaker, and a prey to the 
stronger—passing the fourteen centuries in which they claim to 
have been a nation, either as tyrants or slaves; until becoming 
unendurable as masters, and incorrigible as servants, they were 
finally subdued and driven out of their country, to wander as 
vagabonds over the earth. 

The effects of their superstition upon their own civil polity 
were equally deplorable. The rancor and hatred they manifested 
to others, infused its poison into their domestic concerns, and 
reacted upon themselves; until ten and a half out of the twelve 
tribes which they claim as composing their nation, became lost 
to history and the world. And the madness, credulity, and 
brutal ferocity which they displayed in the last hours of their 
political existence, not only to their enemies, but among them¬ 
selves, formed a striking commentary on the demoralizing influ¬ 
ence of their institutions. Even to this day, they are a standing 
monument of the direful effects of superstition; and the record 
of their crimes forms the blackest annals that stain the pages of 
history. The savage of America, the pirate of the ocean, the 
assassin of Syria, and the Thug of India, have each in their 


62 


turn consecrated their energies and lives to an imaginary God 
or Goddess of murder; but for wild fanaticism, heartless deprav¬ 
ity, and relentless cruelty, the Jewish bandit is without a parallel. 

The religion of Mahomet, like that of Moses, acknowledged 
but one Gfid, himself as his prophet or interpreter, and his follow¬ 
ers as God’s peculiar people; consequently, implicit faith in his 
doctrines, and the divine right of the priesthood, was as much 
a saving grace in the Mahometan as in the Jewish superstition. 
The gratification of the sensual appetites in allowing polygamy 
and concubinage, of ambition and avarice in the prospect of 
universal empire and conquest over the Infidels, were similar 
traits in both religions. But here the parallel closes; for Ma¬ 
homet, not content with a sensual paradise here, extends it into a 
Heaven hereafter. He introduces a future state of rewards and 
punishments to play upon the hopes and fears of his proselytes 
as a special improvement upon the Mosaic system. But while 
implicit faith in the Koran and a due regard for the priesthood 
was required, he, at the same time, inculcated the doctrine that 
the principles of honesty, temperance, and justice were cardinal 
virtues, productive of national and individual happiness; and 
although he countenanced sensual enjoyment, he prohibited 
criminal indulgence. 

If we now turn back the pages of history to centuries before 
either the Jewish or Mahometan religion had a being, we shall 
find, in all probability, the prototype of Christianity in the 
Braminical religion of India; *as that of Moses undoubtedly was 
of the system of Mahomet. We there find the wild vagary of a 
Triune God, and of the incarnation of Chrishna, or Christ, one of 
the persons of that incomprehensible triad, into the form and 
attributes of humanity. Their sacred books state that he was 
mysteriously born of a virgin; fled from a tyrant; was brought up 
by a herdsman; passed his life in a most extraordinary and incon¬ 
ceivable manner; saved multitudes by his miraculous powers; 
was meek, chaste, washed the feet of the Bramins, healed the 

*See Trimurti, in Chamber’s Encyclopedia. Also see Trinity. Also Rationalism. 


63 


sick, raised the dead, was put to death, descended into Hell, arose 
and ascended into Heaven, and is now very God and very man, 
the emblem of Divinity and Humanity, the mediator between 
earth and Heaven. This religion was brought from India to 
Alexandria in Egypt, and from thence extended into Judea at 
a time when the Jews were in the utmost state of depression. 
Their prophecies had totally failed, their dreams of universal 
dominion over a devastated and ruined world, had changed to 
the awakened realities of a hopeless bondage, and a prospective 
termination of national existence. The Romans were their mas¬ 
ters, and they even then retained a political existence only by 
the sufferance of that haughty power. They were required to 
conform to ceremonies which they considered sacriligious, and 
they were looking for a second Joshua or Jesus, to avenge by 
supernatural aid the repeated insults to offended Heaven and a 
desecrated church. 

The Therapeuts, who brought in the Hindoo theology, found 
the time and superstition of the country favorable to their views. 
They urged upon the Jews the belief in a future state of rewards 
and punishments, and that their promised kingdom was not of 
this world, but the world to come; that the end and consummation 
of all things was near, when fire should purge the earth of its 
dross, and the elect of heaven should be forever separated from 
the reprobates doomed to Hell; that a new dispensation was 
required, in which implicit faith should again become the most 
exalted virtue, and passive obedience to a new priesthood the 
highest duty—a dispensation in which its proselytes should be 
exalted to Heaven, to reign as kings and princes forever, while 
their oppressors and all Infidels should suffer interminable agonies 
in Hell. They also affirmed, that one of the Joshuas who had 
been executed in their civil commotions, was indeed the Messiah 
of this new dispensation; that he had come again to life on the 
third day after his death, and ascended into Heaven. This 
appeal to the vindictive feelings and insane ambition of the Jews, 
was not without its effect—the appeal was to the master passions 
of that deluded people, and many were converted to the new 


64 


faith. But to the great body of the nation, a new dispensation, 
claiming to be divine and differing in all its attributes from the 
former, implied a contradiction and mutability too strong for 
their belief. Well might the proposition be a stumbling block 
to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks, when two creeds, 
differing in all their essential requisites, ceremonials, and pro¬ 
spective results, should claim their origin and challenge implicit 
belief as being the inspired records of the will of the son of God. 
That after drowning one batch of humanity, and commanding 
his chosen people to exterminate another; that all at once a new 
dispensation in which love to man even to the sacrifice of divinity 
in their favor, and that by his chosen people, should manifest 
itself for their acceptation, was too much even for the credulity 
of the Jews. The superstition of India, thus engrafted on the 
fanaticism of Judea, has become the prevailing religion of all 
that claim to be the civilized world, and has given form and color, 
not only to all their religions, but to all their social institutions. 

And now what are the superior claims of Christianity? Does 
it claim to be of Divine origin? So does every other religion. 
Does it claim to have sacred books, the records of mediate and 
immediate revelation? So do the Hindoos, Egyptians, Persians, 
Thibetans, and Mahometans.—Do Christians claim an incarna¬ 
tion, and an atonement of the son of God in their favor? So did 
the Hindoos long before them. Does Christianity claim miracles 
and martyrs, the healing the sick, and raising the dead in con¬ 
firmation of their faith? So do they all. Does Christianity 
claim the aid and divine appointment of an arrogant and intol¬ 
erant priesthood to harmonise its discordancies, establish its 
claims, and propagate its doctrines? So does every other relig¬ 
ious credulous superstructure. How then shall we discriminate 
between the merits of each? The advocates of each system will 
tell you, that reason will show you the absurdity of all others and 
the superiority of their own. But should reason be applied to the 
investigation of the popular religion of any, by those within the 
sphere of its influence, it immediately shrinks from the enquiry, 
with the very rational excuse that their religion is of Divine origin, 


65 


supernatural, and above the comprehension of reason. Reason, 
they say, is only applicable to the rejection of other modes of 
belief, not to the investigation of ours. Let us, then, change the 
mode of action, and contemplate its effects by the aid of reason, 
if we are prohibited from investigating its mysteries and its 
claims. What are the effects of Christianity? Can we answer 
better than in the words of its reputed founder?—“ Think not that 
I am come to send peace to the earth, but division, hatred, fire, 
and the sword!” Its effects are seen in the perversion of truth, 
in the duresse and misdirection of science, in the misguiding 
of reason, and the aberration of the imagination. 

Is it consistent with truth, to suppose that Deity gave a com¬ 
mand not to kill and a different one to murder whole nations? 
What has been its influence upon science? Suppose a Bible 
philosopher should undertake to explain the system of Astron¬ 
omy, as there taught, by a mechanical illustration. This planet 
would be the centre of the universe, and, represented by a round 
flat trencher; the sky or firmament by an inverted bowl, painted 
blue on its under surface, and studded with brass nails to represent 
the stars, while two sliding lamps attached to a suspension wire 
would represent the luminaries of day and night. The bowl 
cemented to the trencher would retain the waters of the deluge; 
while certain trap-doors through the bowl, called the windows of 
Heaven, would serve to let down the waters above the firmament 
on to the earth beneath whenever a flood was required for the 
special display of vindictive justice. Such are the morals, such 
the science of a book claimed to be sacred and perfect; and when 
Copernicus and Galileo demonstrated the falsity of the Jewish 
fable, their reward was excommunication and a dungeon. The 
consequences have been the chaining down the opinion to the 
caprices of a dominant priesthood, and the corruption of morals 
by confounding all ideas of right and wrong in the constant viola¬ 
tion of every principle of justice and humanity. Whole nations, 
sects, families, and kindred have been sacrificed on the altar of 
this superstition. The savage has been burnt alive for his ignor¬ 
ance, the philosopher for his knowledge, the strong man for heresy, 


66 


and the feeble child, the simple and innocent girl, and decrepit 
old woman for witchcraft. A glowing and vindictive despotism 
has been spread over the earth, to which the crimes of political 
tyrants are as the small stream compared to the ocean. And 
although its evils stain the pages of history, and its imaginary 
good is but a vanishing phantom, still, like some subtle poisons, 
it intoxicates the brain while it stupefies the reason and preys 
upon the heart. 

We have thus stated our object, defined our terms, given the 
outlines of the origin, progress and effects of (artificially con¬ 
structed) religion; and now what becomes our duty? We claim 
to be free; shall not freemen act up to the impulse of their own 
convictions? We are citizens of a new social compact, flushed 
with high hopes and delusive speculations, recipients of American 
freedom, eulogized as solving the grand problem of the Golden 
Age. What is it? Where is it? In what does it consist? Is 
it in individual competition, or religious assumption? In the 
collisions of interest or opinion? Is it based on this world’s 
goods, or another world’s blessings? In the physical bondage of 
one half the population, or the mental slavery of the whole? 
A revolution that was brought about by prohibiting a few old 
women the use of tea, while the tyranny of opinion that drove 
our forefathers from their native land, was received as a boon and 
cherished as a blessing. Our freedom is but a fraction gained, 
our independence but an empty name, until the net that is woven 
around and over our institutions is rent asunder, and men encour¬ 
aged to the prosecution of free enquiry as the means of acquiring 
knowledge and truth; the free expression of that truth in whatever 
guise or form it may be found; and that fearless decision and 
energy of character which dares to act up to the impulse of con¬ 
viction without regard to opposing prejudices or popular opinions. 

This is the highest source of enjoyment, the noblest principle 
of action; as immortal as the virtues which sustain it, or the truth 
which wakes it into being—a principle which has actuated the 
brave and the good in all ages and in all nations. What called 
forth the sacrifice of Leonidas, and his three hundred Spartans? 


67 


of St. Pierre, and his brave compatriots? A principle acting up 
to the impulse of its own conviction and to a sense of its own duty, 
—a principle of freedom, in which, as they considered, was 
involved all of rights and duties and happiness—all of life worth 
possessing here, or immortality worth hoping for hereafter. 
And are not the names of Washington, Jefferson, Paine and Allen 
—of the Owens, Kneeland, Herttell, Cooper and Bell, and still 
above all praise, the names of Madame Darusmont and Mrs. 
Rose, associated with the same immortal principles, actuated by 
still higher motives, and purer conceptions, than the immortals 
of Greece and Gaul? These, sought only the political elevation of 
their country; those, the moral renovation of their race. These, 
were supported by all the sympathy which could excite a spirit 
of philanthropy and a desire of fame; those, were and are 
oppressed by all the opposing influences and prejudices of the age. 

Is happiness our aim? Why pursue the deceptive lure of an 
ever-vanishing phantom, through the mists of sophistry, and the 
gloom of mystery; which is constantly mocking us with the sem¬ 
blance, but always evading the reality, of our search? Happi¬ 
ness results not from error—Truth has no abiding place in super¬ 
stition. Point me to a single spot on the habitable globe, not to 
a populous city, where vice and misery find their most congenial 
soil, and attain their rankest growth; but to some lone hamlet, 
where temptations are few, and favoring influences abound— 
where (concocted) religion of any sort, name or nature, has pro¬ 
duced a happiness, the result of that high intellectual develop¬ 
ment, to which man by the cultivation of his native powers is 
attainable, the offspring of inductive reason, of demonstrative 
science, of calm investigation that has awakened harmony of 
thought and unity of design; a harmony cemented by love, and 
governed by moral rectitude—and I will fall down and worship 
at the shrine of that religion, as being the grand panacea for the 
human race. But, alas! the picture, although no more than 
what (artificial) religion claims to perform, has never been, and 
never will be, realized. What is the cause? Has it not had time? 
Even modern Christianity has had eighteen centuries for the trial. 


5 


68 


Has it been deficient in means and power? The governments of 
the self-styled civilized world have been under its control; millions 
of money have been lavished upon its proselyting agents and their 
sumptuous but useless temples; a system of legalized plunder for 
centuries has filled the coffers of its insatiate avarice, and nations 
have bowed in humble servitude to its boundless ambition. If 
it has failed, it has not been for want of time, and means, and 
power—but of principle. 

Shall we meet with opposition? Who can doubt it, when even 
in this country, an army of more than twenty thousand salaried 
clergy and pensioned agents, at an annual expense of more than 
twenty-five millions of dollars, are pledged to the conservation of 
its creeds, and the spread of its doctrines? Who can doubt it, 
when the insane cry of “the Church is in danger!” or “the Church 
is in want!” has been a sufficient apology for the blackest crimes, 
and the most heartless oppression? We therefore believe, from 
the evidence of all history, that (artificially constructed) religion 
in all its phases and Protean forms, is the offspring of a wild and 
visionary imagination, not of inductive reason;—that its influence 
is demoralizing, oppressive, intolerant, legalizing crime, conserv¬ 
ing ignorance, nourishing credulity, promoting discord, founded 
in error, and perpetuating misery. Shall we, then, honest and 
firm in our own convictions, conscious of the purity of our motives, 
and the benefits to be derived from their practical application, 
hesitate to act up to the full measure of our convictions, and thus 
prove traitors to ourselves, and recreants to our race? And 
does it not become highly important and necessary to associate 
for the purpose of accomplishing the high and glorious objects 
we have in view? Few in numbers, and isolated in situation, 
what can be the result of individual effort, without concentrated, 
united action? We are so enwrapped in the idealities of this 
visionary superstition, so habituated to its influence, so misled 
by its sophisms, that, like the air we breathe, we can scarcely 
realize its pressure without an elaborate demonstration. 

History points out its crimes, and we are sensible to its bitter 
ingredients; but the fault is laid to the taste,—and even in this 


69 


country we perceive its disruptured elements, like the troubled 
waters, constantly seeking their own level; but we can hardly 
realize its feculency until we trace it to its source, and discover 
the impurity of its origin. Few, as yet, have undertaken the 
task; few have waked to the guidance of reason, and the light of 
truth; but of those who claim to be free, we entreat by their 
experience of the past, by their hopes of the future, to come fear¬ 
lessly forward, and act individually and socially in accordance 
with the impulse of their own convictions. We contend for 
truth as a governing principle, free enquiry as a legitimate right, 
and the free expression of honest conviction as a moral duty. 
Enthusiasm in such a cause is a virtue, perseverance a duty, and 
ultimate success a certainty. 


RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE MEETING. 

1. Resolved, That we have met to inculcate and encourage 
the principles of truth, as impressed upon our minds by a careful 
investigation of the evidence that has been before us. 

2. Resolved, That mental slavery ought never to exist, espe¬ 
cially in a republic; and that the time has arrived when all with 
whom the love of truth predominates, are in duty bound to throw 
off that disagreeable restraint, which hitherto has induced them 
apparently to admit as a truth, what they conscientiously deemed 
to be false. 

3. Resolved, That to doubt, to pause and consider, is not a 
crime—but is the key of kowledge. Who never doubts, will 
never examine; and who never examines, will remain in per¬ 
petual ignorance. 

4. Resolved, That man, in the pursuit of knowledge, can only 
reason from what is known, and that all dogmas not capable of 
being proved by what is known, are without title to the respectful 
consideration of reasonable minds; and that miracles, being out 
of the order of nature, and not within the experience of man, are 
not the subject of rational faith, and cannot, from the very con- 


70 


stitution of mind, and nature of things, receive the assent of 
minds capable of unbiased, patient, and accurate investigation. 

5. Resolved, That coming to a knowledge of the truth as 
revealed by natural laws, is very different from coming to the 
knowledge of unknown things as revealed by the chimeras of the 
imagination; as the first may be known to the living, while the 
latter can be known only to the dead—and the dead know not 
anything, saith the Scripture. 

6. Resolved, That in our morals, our laws, and in the char¬ 
acter of our modes of public and private instruction, duty as 
well as interest points constantly to improvement and pro¬ 
gression. 

7. Resolved, That the great object of our enquiry and of our 
investigation, is truth in relation to our individual Rights and 
Duties as social, intellectual, and moral beings, based not on 
speculative opinions, but on experimental facts, and the due appli¬ 
cation of those facts not only to the happiness of the individual, 
but to the whole family of man. 

8. Resolved, That to our comprehension all (artificially con¬ 
structed) Religions are founded and supported in the belief of a 
Supreme Intelligence, of mysterious and contradictory attributes, 
receive supernaturalism as a guide, and the sophisms of the 
imagination as evidence; that none take the God of Nature for 
support, the laws of Nature as a guide, or the legitimate inductions 
of Reason as evidence. 

9. Resolved, That we consider Ethics, or the doctrine of moral¬ 
ity, of the highest consequence to man, as giving rules of life 
deduced from the consequences of actions, as ascertained through 
our sensations and observations; and that the distinction between 
religion and morality is, that while one implies a particular mode 
of belief, the other implies a just mode of practice. (And such 
mode of practice is true worship, true religion.) 

10. Resolved, That people are sceptical to the high-wrought 
fancies of the imagination in proportion to their knowledge of 
natural laws, and credulous and superstitious in proportion to 
their ignorance of them. 


71 


11. Resolved, That belief, like our taste or smell, is not subject 
to the will, and that every command to believe is unjust and 
absurd; for no power, except that of convincing evidence, can 
command rational belief. 

12. Resolved, That of all the efforts which have called forth 
the intellectual and physical energies of man, the struggle for 
mental liberty is the highest and the noblest. 

13. Resolved, That we will hail as a friend and brother, each 
and every one who pursues rational truth as his guide, and honest 
industry as his calling. 


CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE MENTAL 
LIBERTY SOCIETY. 

Preamble. 

In accordance with the foregoing Resolutions, and with the 
impression that the conduct and character of every individual is 
the consequence of pre-conceived opinions, or ungoverned pas¬ 
sions, and showing the necessary result of external influences 
operating upon him; we would commence the work of reform by 
changing those influences when wrong, and strengthening and 
extending them when right. We accordingly resolve ourselves 
into an Association, to be governed by the following Constitution 
and By-Laws. 


Constitution. 

Article 1.—This society shall be known by the name of The 
Mental Liberty Society, and shall consist of a President, Vice 
President, Secretary, Librarian, Treasurer, Council of Super¬ 
vision, Committees of Business and Associates. Said officers 
and committees to hold their offices one year, or until others are 
chosen. 

Art. 2—The name of each attending member, as well as of 
every new applicant, shall be handed to, and canvassed by, the 



72 


Council of Supervision, whose united vote shall constitute him 
an associate of said Society, or expel him from the same; but if 
disagreed among themselves, it shall be determined by a vote of 
two-thirds of the Society, an appeal to which can be made by 
any person aggrieved. 

Art. 3.—This Society shall hold meetings at least quarterly, at 
such places and at such times as they shall from time to time 
designate, with power to establish a Library, and carry on its 
operation, in part, through the medium of a Lyceum. 

Art. 4.—Each member of this Society shall pay to the Treasurer 
of the same, one dollar at the time of signing the Constitution 
and By-Laws, which shall entitle him or her to all the privileges 
of said Society for the time being. Said money shall be appro¬ 
priated at the discretion of the Council of Supervision and the 
executive officers of the Society, in accordance with a two-thirds 
vote of the same. 

Art. 5.—This Constitution may be altered or amended at any 
quarterly meeting, by a vote of two-thirds of the members 
present. Notice of such alteration being given and specified at a 
previous meeting, a majority vote, after such notice and specifica¬ 
tion, may alter or amend the By-Laws. 

Art. 6.—The Secretary shall keep a record of the name, resi¬ 
dence, and subscription of each member prefixed, to which record 
there shall be the Preamble, Constitution, By-Laws, and Resolu¬ 
tions adopted, all of which shall be exhibited by him to the 
Society quarterly. 

Art. 7.—The Treasurer shall receive and record, and safely 
keep, all monies that shall be paid to him, and pay them out by 
the order of the Society. The offices of Treasurer and Secretary 
may be united in one person, when more convenient. 

Art. 8.—The Librarian shall take charge of all the books, manu¬ 
scripts, apparatus, specimens, or paintings, purchased by or 
loaned to the Library, and shall keep a record and inventory of 
the same. 

Art. 9.—It shall be the duty of each and every member of this 
Society, by candid and careful examination, to render firm their 


73 


own convictions, and the wavering or doubtful opinions of others; 
to meet with candor and frankness, but temperate firmness, the 
opposing prejudices of those swayed by different influences, and 
convince the world by the practical utility and careful observance 
of our own moral precepts, that while we eschew, and are Infidels 
to the modes, forms, ceremonies, and general influences of all 
supernatural religion, we are faithful to Science, Truth, Morality, 
and the great and universal Brotherhood of Man. (The true 
Religion.) 

Art. 10.—On extraordinary occasions, the President may call 
special meetings of this Society. 


By-Laws. 

Article 1.—It shall be the duty of the President, and, in his 
absence, the Vice-President, to preside at all regular meetings of 
the Society. If both are absent, a President pro tem shall be 
chosen. 

Art. 2.—It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep a record 
of the proceedings of the Society, and to read the same at each 
meeting, if requested. 

Art. 3.—The Librarian may receive on loan, at an interest not 
to exceed 12 per cent, on the cost, any books deemed useful to 
the Library, said interest to be paid out of the funds of the 
Library. He shall deliver no book, the price of which exceeds 
one dollar, to any irresponsible person, nor sell any book or 
pamphlet except at the retail price, and for cash down. No pub¬ 
lication, under the price of ten cents, shall be distributed other¬ 
wise than by sale. No member of the Library shall receive but 
one volume at a time, if the price of the same exceeds fifty cents. 
The Librarian shall report the state of the Library to the Society 
quarterly. 

Art. 4.—One or more Auditors may be chosen to settle with 
the Treasurer, which may be done at any time by giving due 
notice. 



74 


Art. 5.—It shall be the duty of lecturers, when in the Lyceum, 
to limit their time of speaking to thirty minutes, and of debates 
to fifteen minutes, having liberty, however, in debate, to speak 
twice on the same subject. 

Art. 6.—All associates and members of the Library shall be 
responsible for any books or property entrusted to their care, 
and for damages to the same, at the discretion of the Librarian. 

Art. 7.—All persons paying a dollar to the Librarian, shall be 
entitled to equal privileges in the Library, and said money shall 
be expended to increase the same. 

Art. 8.—The funds of this Society, after defraying necessary 
expenses, and one dollar quarterly to the Board of Managers in 
New York, shall be expended in procuring liberal and scientific 
works for the Library, and no officer shall receive any compensa¬ 
tion for any official services he may render the Society. 

Art. 9.—It shall be the duty of all persons, taking books from 
the Library, to return the same in six weeks. If not returned in 
twelve weeks, they shall be considered sold to the retainer, who 
shall pay the Librarian for the same. 

NAMES OF ASSOCIATES. 

Dr. M. F. Morrison, Bath, N. H., President. 

Dr. John McNab, Mclndoes Falls, Vt., V. Pres. 

Josiah F. Wilson, Haverhill, Sec. and Treas. 

Jonathan Wilson, do., Librarian. 

Nath’l Annis, Haverhill, N. H., 1 Council 

Cyrus J. S. Scott, Newbury, Vt., \ of 

Jacob Morse, Haverhill, N. H., J Supervision. 

Jacob M. White, Jun., Haverhill, N. H. 

Charles J. Scott, Newbury, Vt. 

Charles A. Sawyer, Haverhill, N. H. 

Frederick Crocker, Bath, N. H. 

Capt. Daniel French, Haverhill, N. H. 

Richardson French, Haverhill, N. H. 

Josiah F. Wilson was great uncle, Jonathan Wilson was grandfather, Capt. Daniel French 
was uncle, Richardson French was grandfather of Nahum W. French. 


75 


FINALE. 

A broad deep analysis of universal principles of justice would 
be incomplete, at this time, not considering the pitiful condition 
in which European people have found themselves. 

Something must be wrong in the general policy of harmonious 
human progress. 

Those people all understand through their rational research, 
that there can be but One Supreme Force —God—to rule the Uni¬ 
verse in harmony:—Take heed—Immortalize the command given 
by Ethan Allan at Ticonderoga in 1775:—“ By the Great Jehovah, 
and The Continental Congress , you are commanded to surrender.” 

The Continental Congress * to be Commander-in-chief of the 
army and navy; of all dreadnaughts and ordnance; all at the 
Supreme human command of an enlightened democratic rationalism , 
with as few official intermediaries as is possible. 

N. W. F. 


* Eventually, The World’s Continental Congress. 



























. 

















































































































4 
























































































































PART II 

The Prog ress of Nature 

or 


The Genesis of Mind and Matter 

—God— 



Copyright, 1915 
By Nahum W. French 


Published April, 1915 


. m/l m 



©Cl, A398932 





THE PROGRESS OF NATURE. 

Birth of Recognition. 

Our language, it appears quite evident has been misconstrued; 
or it may be it never was openly and fairly construed. 

It may be it needs a thoroughly Socratic investigation and ren¬ 
ovation. 

Experience has revealed that the masses of people in kingdoms, 
empires and republics have been deluded, and countries devas¬ 
tated by a wrong understanding of words, and of things; and by 
an ambiguous, and by the common people, mistaken application 
of them. 

It must be seen that to have a correct understanding and treat¬ 
ment,— things —must be considered and treated according to 
their varying properties, considered separately; and not, by the 
combination as a Whole: —extended even, to Divinity. 

What is beyond controversy? Surely Truth is beyond contro¬ 
versy: 

Will anything, even truth, be absolutely beyond contradiction 
in human practices, until the human race has reached the organ¬ 
ized and perfect age of a fully developed wisdom —instinct— 
with plain truth to all individual units of mind, in full view? 

When every individual knows the full truth as it relates to 
fixed principles, then, will the great mass of common people 
all pull one way in organized force, and thereby rule according 
to every man’s rights. The rights of each and all individuals are 
absolutely the same, as far as principles of government go. Are 
not Nature’s Principles, and Wisdom, and Nature’s Force, prop¬ 
erties of God—the aggregate Whole? Are they not for one man, 
or class of men, as much as for another? 

Until honesty, and truth, solve the great question, as to 
whether God is a pre-meditating, scheming, ante-omniscient or, 
knew-it-all entity, or Spirit, according to the Mosaic and Chris- 


80 



tian contention, or, whether God, and the Universe are the same— 
developing together—according to Pantheism; that, for centuries 
was fought over with Alexandria in Egypt as a center, and for all 
time since, has caused the greatest confusion, delusion and con¬ 
tention, arising from a bastard of myth and moral :— 

And also, until truth, and honor, and courage solve the equally 
as great question, as to whether the principles of taxation, and 
government, practiced by Solon and Croesus in their great wealth 
and wisdom 550 years B. C. were just to the common people of 
Athenae and Lydia, and, if they are just to the people of today:— 
Until those questions are solved, and practiced right, harmony, 
and common brotherhood cannot exist. 

Until a people reach such an age of understanding, Democratic 
rule, would be as absolute and complete —with much less expense 
and trouble—in the Recall and Impeaching power, as, in repre¬ 
sentative confusion, and endurance of a multitude of freak, 
selfish, unconstitutional statutes, and further imposition by preju¬ 
diced courts that can be held in no way responsible either for the 
laws so made, or for the heedless practices growing out of them. 

Let the Court, limited to universal, fixed, constitutional princi¬ 
ples of justice, make the public laws, and stand upon such 
principles responsible to the whole people, for them. 

So, evidently, thought Alexander Hamilton. 

Xenophanes, born in Asia Minor about 580 B. C. was the 
first to maintain the philosophy of Oneness, of the universe. 

He held the existent to be identical with deity; and regarded 
it as the base of phenomena; he also maintained that the divine 
was neither finite nor infinite. He was the founder of the “Ele- 
atic School of Philosophy.” 

During the early Grecian age there were numerous philoso¬ 
phers, many of whom must have been wonderfully able and deep 
in their research, and, as in all ages some who assumed much, and 
evidently knew little. 

It may as well be pointed out here that one of the claims of 
this work is that:—The Pantheistic philosophies of the ancient 


81 


Greeks, were absolutely honest and of moral intent, and most 
wonderfully deep and perfect to a great extent; but were de¬ 
ficient in demonstrated facts sufficient to prove the full truth; 
consequently some of those philosophers could see no way, only, 
“From dust thou art to dust returnest,” must include the soul; 
for to them, and to modern understanding— all the properties or 
qualities of things or of matter, not being known —conclusions 
have been, (upon a vital point), deficient, and wrong.* 

—And that—The nature of the soul, as according to Judaism, 
and as was, in the Christian version attempted to be explained 
philosophically by Descartes, making the spirit or soul to be from 
the first, a separate entity, and a part of an indescribable, im¬ 
aginary God, that can connive, and do miracles—is claimed also, 
to be deficient and is wrong. 

Pantheism, or the understanding that the universe and God 
are the same—in a general way covers the physical philosophies 
of those Grecian times; and the Pantheon was erected and dedi¬ 
cated to the philosophies or gods according to the teachings of 
each peculiar “schook” 

It is amply evident that natural wisdom and morality was 
sought after—not creed, religion, or superstition, by the Greek 
philosophers. 

Leucippus, a student of the Eleatic school, and founder of the 
Atomic school of Grecian philosophy, was the forerunner of 
Democritus. 

“Democritus, was by far the most learned thinker of his age; 
was born at Abdera in Thrace, about 470 B. C. His philosophy 
was an atomic system. He assumes as the ultimate elementary 
ground of nature, an infinite multitude of indivisible particles or 
atoms; and attributes to these a primary motion derived from 
no higher principle. This motion brings the atoms in contact, and 
from the multitudes of combinations that they form, springs the 
vast and varying aggregate which is called nature, as presented 
to our eyes.” 

* See Epicureanism. Britannica Encyclopedia gives the most complete accounts of the 
characters herein considered. 


82 


He did not acknowledge the presence of design, hut admitted that 
of order . 

Life, consciousness, thought, were according to him, derived 
from the finest atoms. He applied his theory to the-gods whom he 
affirmed to be aggregates of atoms. As a Grecian, long before 
Christianity was known, he was highly respected for truth, 
justice, peace of heart, and an aim to all virtuous endeavor.” 

Quite probable Athenian Democracy grew out of the condi¬ 
tion of the common people; although living under a constitution 
developed by and descended from the profound moral philosophy 
and research of Lycurgus the Spartan lawyer, about 900 B. C.— 
yet, for some reason, the industrious, saving, producing people 
grew into slavery; paying what they called “tribute” (tax and 
improper profits) to Croesus, the king of Lydia across the sea 
east of Athens; and to traders, who became rich and lived in 
luxury:— “liable” to a tax on their “property,” and subject to 
“practices” practically the same as have since been imposed, 
and, repeatedly developed into slavery, social chaos, revolution, 
and war. 

Solon the wise, and doubtless crafty lawyer, who was asso¬ 
ciated with, and paying visits to the court of Croesus, the rich¬ 
est man in the world—was willing to help the poor slaves from 
starvation by radical, unconstitutional methods. He divided the 
people into four classes; the first class included all who had a 
yearly “income” of 500 medimni or more; the second class in¬ 
cluded incomes from 300 to 500, the third class from 200 to 300, 
and the fourth class, all those whose income yearly was below 
200 medimni. “The first three classes were 1 liable’ to 1 direct’ 
taxation; the fourth not, but was ‘liable’ to indirect taxation.” 
Look close and see if here is not the prototype of present delu¬ 
sions:—“indirect,” “in practice,” has been, “according to the 
selling value,” — the significance of all of which, has already 
been discussed. 

When Peisistratos, a near relative, took the reins of govern¬ 
ment and espoused the cause of the common people—Solon, the 
great and wise (was he honest?) lawyer, and the rich classes (the 


83 


Pediaei and the Parali) led by Lykurgos and Megakles fought him 
evidently to a compromise—that the common people should be 
relieved, but not enlightened: —they were not enlightened, and 
evidently never have been thoroughly, in relation to rights and 
principles, and a full Socratic significance of words and of moral 
law. (Poor Socrates, he lost his life by telling the truth and 
exposing iniquity.) 

Here is to be found the cradle of constitutional construction 
of political, moral, philosophic righteousness; and, out from close 
proximity to the same cradle of wisdom, its immediate and con¬ 
tinued violation, in the practices; bringing repeated poverty, 
devastation, and finally revolution, through the succeeding cen¬ 
turies in The Progress of Nature, up to the present time. It 
is probable the word “Democracy” was from Democritus. 

Pyrrhon the founder of a school of Greek scepticism, lived 
contemporary with Democritus—was a student of his writings, 
morals, and philosophy; and, although he fully supported and 
lived up to the high standard of moral virtue gained from such 
study, yet he concluded it impossible to acquire a scientific 
knowledge of things. (Nature.) He was greatly reverenced by 
his people on account of his personal and moral excellencies. 

Epicurus, an illustrious Greek philosopher about 300 B. C., 
also very clearly explained and supported the atomic philosophy 
as far as, at that time, it was solved. Speaking of the gods, he 
says—“ Beware of attributing the revolutions of the heavens, 
and eclipses, and the rising and setting of stars, either to an 
original contrivance , or continued regulation, by such a being. 
For, business, and cares, and anger, and benevolence, are not 
accordant with (Godly) happiness, but arise from weakness, and 
fear, and dependence on others.”—These were Jewish, are 
human burdens, not Godly. 

He held that pleasure was the chief good, but, from a radically 
wrong meaning being given to the word “pleasure and to the 
teachings of Epicurus, great liberties against nature and true 
pleasure, and sins against the welfare of mankind have been 
imposed. Rousseau’s “ Emile ” has been wrongfully construed to 


84 


be an antithesis of Epicurean philosophy, when that philosophy 
is truly interpreted. (See p. 127.) 

It is the assumption of Godly power and supremacy by human 
individuals, carried beyond a “proper” human standard:—Israel 
—King—Czar—Kaiser—Croesus—Finance—Standard Oil, & 
Cos., that develop ignorance , superstition, poverty, and wars. 

“Beware!” Caution is not given unless danger is seen ap¬ 
proaching from somewhere on the horizon. Judaism coming from 
the south, into Greece, had absolutely no philosophy, but did 
have, “A cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night”— “ Contriv¬ 
ing,” scheming, imaginary god; planning how the peaceable 
Canaanites or Philistines might all be murdered to carry out a 
devilish grasping, animal plot. Epicurus said —“Beware” O, 
had he been heeded! Was not here a prophecy of the coming 
of Christ? The coming of Jewish myth crowding into Grecian 
moral, 300 B. C. forming a bastard with which to defeat phi¬ 
losophy, and, delude the world? 

Renascence. 

Pakacelsus, born in Switzerland in 1493, was an eclectic philos¬ 
opher, chemist and physician, the son of a physician and chemist. 
Being independent of Diplomatic Regulars, he failed to retain 
recognition in his works of natural merit. He, in the Renascence 
was the first to teach that all things are an extension and modula¬ 
tion of One Prime Element. He did not attempt to define that 
element. To him appears to belong the credit of inciting a revival 
leading to the Descartean, Spinozaen, Darwinian, treatments of 
development. He taught that disease is not caused by an excess 
or a deficiency of blood or bile or any of the natural bodily ele¬ 
ments; but that it is an individual development, a blight upon the 
body and must have a specific medicine. 

His teachings led to a revolution in the treatment of disease, 
and in the methods of practice, at that time. Paracelsus in the 
heart of Christendom, was thrown out of a window and his neck 
broken. 


85 


Descartes, a philosopher of the sixteenth century, laid down 
as a fundamental principle—“An essential difference between 
Spirit and Matter: A difference so great that they can exert no 
influence upon each other.” He held that—“There was originally 
two substances; One, mind, and the other, Matter; and, through¬ 
out all nature’s works they have remained distinct.” 

Descartes did not confine his attention to mental philosophy 
but devoted himself systematically to the explanation of the 
properties of bodies composing the material universe. In this 
department, his revival amounted to a revolution although many 
of his explanations of physical phenomena have since proved 
sufficiently absurd. His corpuscular revival, in which he en¬ 
deavored to explain all the appearances of the material world 
was clearly, a great effort in the direction of an attempt to settle 
naturally, the great controversy between Pantheistic philosophy 
and Christian Judaism; and thereby, be a great benefactor of 
mankind; possibly, in view of an upward struggle toward human 
discovery of Nature’s Wisdom. 

Spinoza, also a profound philosopher of the next century, whose 
Pantheistic treatment it is claimed forms the base of German 
Science, and, who by all must be acknowledged to have been a 
profound Deist, said—“ There is no real difference between mind as 
represented by God, and matter as represented by Nature. They 
are One, a,nd may be called either God or Nature.” 

He held that there was but One Original Substance — God: that 
all things are modulations or extensions of that One Substance: 
—An idea, originated in Pantheism, over two thousand years 
earlier. 

Derzhaven, a Russian poet in the eighteenth century, most 
effusively expresses his philosophy in his poem. 

GOD. 

“O Thou eternal One! whose presence bright 
All space doth occupy, all motion guide: 

Unchanged through timers all devastating flight; 

Thou only God! There is no God beside! 

Being above all beings! Mighty One! 


86 


Whom none can comprehend and none explore; 

Who filPst existence with Thyself alone: 

Embracing all,—supporting,—ruling o'er,— 

Being whom we call God—and know no more! 

“In its sublime research, philosophy 
May measure out the ocean-deep—may count 
The sands or the sun's rays—but God! for Thee 
There is no weight nor measure:—none can mount 
Up to Thy mysteries. Reason's brightest spark, 
Though kindled by Thy light, in vain would try 
To trace Thy counsels, infinite and dark: 

And thought is lost ere thought can soar so high, 
Even like past moments in eternity. 

“Thou from primeval nothingness didst call 
First chaos, then existence:—Lord! on Thee 
Eternity had its foundation:—all 
Sprung forth from Thee:—of light, joy, harmony, 
Sole origin:—all life, all beauty Thine. 

Thy word created all, and doth create; 

Thy splendor fills all space with rays divine. 

Thou art, and wert, and shalt be! Glorious! Great! 
Light-giving, life-sustaining Potentate! 

“Thy chains the unmeasured universe surround, 
Upheld by Thee, by Thee inspired with breath! 
Thou the beginning with the end hast bound, 

And beautifully mingled life and death! 

As sparks mount upwards from the fiery blaze, 

So suns are born, so worlds spring forth from Thee: 
And as the spangles in the sunny rays 
Shine round the silver snow, the pageantry 
Of heaven's bright army glitters in Thy praise. 

“A million torches lighted by Thy hand 
Wander unwearied through the blue abyss: 

They own Thy power, accomplish Thy command, 
All gay with life, all eloquent with bliss. 

What shall we call them? Piles of crystal light— 

A glorious company of golden streams— 

Lamps of celestial ether burning bright— 

Suns lighting systems with their joyous beams? 

But Thou to these art as the noon to night. 


87 


““Yes! as a drop of water in the sea, 

All this magnificence in Thee is lost:— 

What are ten thousand worlds compared to Thee? 
And what am I then? Heaven’s unnumbered host, 
Though multiplied by myriads, and arrayed 
In all the glory of sublimest thought, 

Is but an atom in the balance; weighed 
Against Thy greatness, is a cipher brought 
Against infinity! O, what am I then? Naught! 

““Naught! yet the effluence of Thy light divine, 
Pervading worlds, hath reached my bosom too; 

Yes! in my spirit doth Thy spirit shine, 

As shines the sunbeam in a drop of dew. 

Nought! yet I live, and on hope’s pinions fly 
Eager towards Thy presence; for in Thee 
I live, and breathe, and dwell; aspiring high, 

Even to the throne of Thy divinity. 

I am, O God! and surely Thou must be! 

4< Thou art! directing, guiding all, Thou art! 

Direct my understanding, then, to Thee; 

Control my spirit, guide my wandering heart: 
Though but an atom midst immensity, 

Still I am something, fashioned by Thy hand! 

I hold a middle rank ’twixt heaven and earth. 

On the last verge of mortal being stand, 

Close to the realms where angels have their birth, 
Just on the boundaries of the spirit-land! 

“The chain of being is complete in me; 

In me is matter’s last gradation lost, 

And the next step is spirit—Deity! 

I can command the lightning, and am dust! 

A monarch, and a slave; a worm, a god! 

Whence came I here? and how so marvellously 
Constructed and conceived? unknown! this clod 
Lives surely through some higher energy; 

For from itself alone it could not be! 

““Creator, yes! Thy wisdom and Thy word 
Created me! Thou source of life and good! 

Thou spirit of my spirit, and my Lord! 


88 


Thy light, thy love, in their bright plenitude 
Filled me with an immortal soul, to spring 
Over the abyss of death, and bade it wear 
The garments of eternal day, and wing 
Its heavenly flight beyond this little sphere, 
Even to its source—to Thee—its Author there. 

“O thoughts ineffable! 0 visions blest! 

Though worthless our conceptions all of Thee, 
Yet shall Thy shadowed image fill our breast, 
And waft its homage to Thy Deity. 

God! thus alone my lonely thoughts can soar; 
Thus seek Thy presence, Being wise and good! 
Midst Thy vast works admire, obey, adore; 
And when the tongue is eloquent no more, 

The soul shall speak in tears of gratitude.” 


An eloquent poetic effusion, 

Of the Deity—in a part—most true, 

But—of man as ‘Naught’—Confusion! 

A part of God Himself: For you 
To think, to solve Creation more, 

No't bow in weakness, to the thought— 

For man, there’s only to adore. 

To such thinkers let remembrance turn in reverence, especially 
considering the narrow field for collating facts to build upon at 
their time. 


Analysis. 

In the fourteenth year of the twentieth century of the Con- 
stantinean Era, this great and most wonderful Universe—the 
beauties, the complications, the mysteries, the joys and sorrows, 
achievements and warring delusions and devastations of which, 
the human imagination could not have even remotely approached,, 
had not such intellect and observation lived in actual contact— 
stands out broadly for investigation. 



89 


Let us see what can be seen! 

It may be seen that Art. 38 Bill of Rights from A to Z should 
be looked up, ( ante p. 24 ) and come to be much better compre¬ 
hended, and much more thoroughly practiced generally, as it 
relates to natural principles. 

* * * * * 

“One generation overlaps another, and it is the same old story 
of resemblance. Only the matter of attire makes the difference 
and the costume is generally an illusion that makes a man dumb 
with deception — a pleasant deception, no doubt. Human nature 
—the study of it — is one of the most fascinating sciences — for it 
is a science. It is pleasant to observe how different people act 
under precisely similar circumstances —some foolish and others 
wise, and many very, very stupid. Knowing how to swim, how 
to look up things, and how to read people combine to make an 
education that beats the college intricacies to a standstill. And 
those, too, are three things that the ordinary person doesn't 
know. Look around and see! 

— The Old Man .” 

HtH<H<H«H< 

By a searching interpretation of Hearts, as of Constitutions and 
Statutes it may be revealed to him who dares to stand alone 
crossing swords against all odds, that selfishness and ignorance of 
fundamental truth, take the lead in practice; surely bringing its 
long train of remorse and suffering. 

It may be seen that the constitution, and the progress of fun¬ 
damental courses of nature as now understood (or not under¬ 
stood) are open to question, and are certainly debatable: — Light 
and Heat—the Sun and its forces and nature — Combustion— 
Vegetable and animal development — Life — Mind — Matter— 
Force, all, must be properties imperishable, in the wisdom and 
force of God. This is (in extended detail) the discovery of an¬ 
cient Pantheists; and with an open vision of the Divine, to say 
one of these properties is the same as the others as explained by 
Spinoza— with some modification —is probably right; but, from 
human relations, and treatments in the modulated conditions, 
would be wrong. To consider God as a positive and negative— 
Wisdom, and Force — Extenuating, extensible atomic fluid sub- 


90 


stance, can, with a little modification and explanation, be con¬ 
strued to bring Descartes and Spinoza, and the two great theo¬ 
logical differences together. But in making mind and matter 
primarily co-existent and entirely independent of each other , ap¬ 
pears must have been a mistake of Descartes. 

It is safe to conclude that properties of things all vary in the 
proportions and arrangement of their component atoms; and 
that it takes all properties of the thing combined to complete 
the thing. 

In considering what God is, Wisdom must stand the highest. 
Nature’s or God’s wisdom it may be, is properly called—Im¬ 
pressed atomic wisdom. 

A clear understanding obtained of the possibilities of modu¬ 
lated results from prime atoms, and advancement can be more 
readily made toward the solution of some of the knotty prpb- 
lems over which generations have wrangled, and lived centuries 
as if in a perpetual human nightmare. 

In the analysis of these modulated parts, it will be better com¬ 
prehended to take up the more commonly understood modu¬ 
lations first. 

Water, is quite generally known to have a subdivision into 
molecules. The components of water are oxygen and hydrogen. 
From the natural results that are brought about by these, it 
must be concluded that a further subdivision into atoms of force, 
must be made—mixed by Nature’s Order—that is, a wise pro¬ 
portion and arrangement. Nature’s Order can never he ignorant , 
and can never cheat, for, it sets the standard of all science, honesty, 
or truth. 

Oxygen and Hydrogen as well as Nitrogen and Carbon, each 
may be brought into a condition producing heat, light, and 
inherent force either gradual, affinity, or explosive; therefore 
must contain the element of force for without it, how could mani¬ 
festations of force be made? 

The great stored supply of water is the ocean; but it does not 
stay there—it takes force to move it—what is that force, and 
from whence does it come? 


91 


It is known that heat makes the atoms of water separate, 
become invisible, and pass into the air, between the molecules, 
and carried by the wind all over the land, and by nature’s order 
become visible, again, falls in rain, and enters into combination 
with mineral fertility; and, together with other combinations 
enter into the structures of all animal and vegetable life—per¬ 
meates the soil and flows down the streams giving what is called 
water-power; but really only the power of Electricity in the 
attraction of gravitation—continues back to the ocean, having 
made a complete circuit. 

The New Hampshire Board of Health have published a bulletin 
representing that at Sugar Hill and other mountain resorts, cess¬ 
pools have been constructed air tight, under ground, having the 
inlet and outlet both beneath the surface of the water, above 
which there is a dead air space—receiving the sewerage from large 
numbers;—have been opened up and inspected and found to 
contain, and discharge only apparently clear water. If this be 
true, Nature has reconverted the vegetable matter back into the 
prime atoms composing the water. This does not seem incon¬ 
sistent, when it is considered that all vegetable growth must 
have received its structure from forms— invisible . 

Running water purifies itself, but the philosophy of such an 
operation has never come to be understood. The philosophy 
evidently is the same as in the cesspool, simply a reconversion 
from visible into invisible prime unmodulated atoms, or mole¬ 
cules of water. 

Air, is a fluid also — invisible; the molecules made up of oxygen 
and nitrogen and must be subdivisible into atoms of force, also; 
easily slide over each other if a little outside force is applied; but 
that little amounts to hundreds of thousands horse power to 
move the great mass of air, laying fifteen pounds on every square 
inch at sea level: The air of itself as now understood can have 
no inherent force more than water, or steam, for steam is sup¬ 
posed to be water. 

If it should be proved that oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen 
(components of air and water) are, in their ultimate analyses com- 


92 


posed of positive and negative atoms of Electric Force, then the 
developing phenomena of Nature, may be more easily under¬ 
stood. Air mixes in varying quantities with other fluids and 
substances, supplemented with a varying mixture of the mole¬ 
cules or atoms of other modulated properties:—and by Light and 
Heat—(What are they?)—and Time and Space—limited to na¬ 
ture’s wisdom —develops the different species of natural products 
—animal, vegetable, or mineral. 

In solving truly, the compounding of substances or fluids, or 
in considering gases either by molecules, or according to weight, 
a predominating and very complicating introduction of the 
atomic, visible or invisible, positive or negative, attracting or 
repelling, polarizing, north or south latitude, extensible, extenuat¬ 
ing prehensile Electric nature, with unlimited numbers, computed 
upon principles of permutation, must be taken into the detailed 
solution in order to give a scientific understanding of the true 
atomic development. —The whole burden of which details are sub¬ 
mitted with sympathy to the Professors in their strenuous 
efforts. When this is accomplished, Art may , cut Nature out. 
Also in relation to the true philosophy of Gravitation, and all 
manifestations of Force, the afore mentioned considerations 
either directly or remotely, it seems, must be the prime factors. 

Air envelops the Earth as a constantly circulating and per¬ 
meating fluid analogous to water. Air becomes more and more 
rarefied, finally to a vacuum as it extends out from the surface 
of the Earth. 

By heat, air molecules are forced apart, as, are the molecules 
more or less in all other substances, made up of Electricity, (and 
that covers all substance,) barring a lack of expansion in certain 
frigid temperatures. 

By applying force to an air pump a rarefied condition can be 
produced. The air in the common Electric light bulb is very 
much rarefied; were it not, the expansion from the Electric heat 
would burst them, and besides, not nearly so bright light would 
be obtained, as may be seen, as this work is progressed. 

There is reason to believe that the Sun also, has a body of 


93 


atmosphere around it growing thinner to a vacuum as it extends 
out from the real surface some 300,000 miles to the rarity of 
Electric light, and to vacuum much farther out. 

There is evidence that a very imponderable fluid—Ether- 
fills all space, and reflects, or conveys light through space. 

All that is beautiful and good in nature, is Godly:—the flowers, 
the forests, the crops, the birds, our beautiful homes, the golden 
clouds and rainbow hues. But, are they not all modulations of 
the ocean’s substance or the earthly filth, through the agency of 
the prime invisible component atomic matter, or force, in some 
of its many peculiar operations? 

What is force? We see the universe compelled to move by 
it in great circles, from the greatest planets to the tiniest atom:— 
Yes, the great Solar Systems are being swung through space 
around some remote center of which no calculation has been 
made heretofore. 

Force is tremendously displayed in our earthly elements, in 
the lightning’s works, the winds that blow, the tons of water 
that rise, the rivers that flow, gravitation, life, energy of man, of 
animal and vegetable existence, every factory and shop, in light, 
in heat—everywhere Force is seen in operation. Where and how 
does it originate? Derzhaven says—God—and know no more. 
But that is not philosophy, it is not the full power of reason, which 
elevates man above the animal. 

It is the right of man to know more, either of Nature, of 
Moral Political Justice or, of Iniquitous Practices. 

As has thus far been ascertained, the operations of the elements 
appear to be mechanical—that is, one part works with another 
and produces results. But what makes them work? We say— 
Force—but where is the ultimate origin of force. Until that can 
be proved visibly mechanical— Earthly Materialism cannot be 
supported as independent of invisible matter — spirit. 

Oxygen, is known to have powerful affinities (force) for all 
substances and enters into them in varying proportions making 
up their constituent matter: —It is necessary to animal and vege- 
2 


94 


table life, also to combustion, and constitutes 8/9 of water, and 
approximately 1 /2 the weight of the earth’s crust. 

Nitrogen, also a most widely diffused substance entering in 
varying proportions into, and thereby forming the composition 
of peculiar varying solids and fluids which we see, in animal, 
vegetable, and other bodies, does not alone cause a steady light 
and heat, (combustion,) but in some combinations, causes most 
powerful indications of force, (explosions.) It composes 4/5 of 
the air, approximately. 

Hydrogen, is 14 1 /2 times lighter than air, it will faintly pro¬ 
duce, or assist in producing heat, and light, when in contact with a 
body of air; and, when mixed in certain proportions, will also 
cause a display of force, (explode.) It is 1/9 of the water, and 
probably in other bodies in some combination more or less. 

Carbon, is in all organic substances—coal, wood, sugar, oil, 
flesh, fibre and in all combustible substances; it is in air, in water, 
and in lime stone giving a manifestation of force and heat when 
slacking. The combustibles all give manifestations of being made 
up of atoms of force that produce heat and light when these atoms, 
are forced asunder, (fire.) 

The one common characteristic in all these elements is— 
Force: —either activfe or inactive and they are, therefore, ulti¬ 
mately composed of atoms of force—Electric. 

Understand that all things visible or invisible, solid or fluid, 
mind or matter—in their ultimate analysis are made up of a 
combination, from diffused positive and negative atoms, modu¬ 
lated into peculiar molecules and germs, disposed under the 
limits of involuntary Instinct —Wisdom—Nature’s development 
(not brain understanding) as is manifest in the involuntary opera¬ 
tions in a human body. 

Rock disintegrates and decomposes into soil, soil liberates 
fertile elements that nourish vegetation, vegetation nourishes 
man and develops a brain, the brain (the Soul desk) contains 
the memoirs, (the mind.) 

Is it philosophy, or is it delusion to decide that rock has 
actually been converted or modulated into mind? 


95 


There can be no controversy, that atoms (and their qualities) 
of mineral matter rock—enters into the structure of the brain. 

Is the brain and the mind that is in it the same entity? Does 
the mind itself require material nourishment,—rock substance, 

or does it require only a machine, (the brain and body,) kept in 
good repair by the rock elements—with which the mind can work 
to increase itself atom by atom, idea by idea, (knowledge,) and 
thereby in the aggregate result impart an impress—no details— 
upon the immortal soul? 

This great religious, moral, and controversial question 
of identity, can be best considered by merging both rock and 
mind into the aggregate accumulation of prime atoms that have 
not been modulated in any way. The prime atoms may be con¬ 
sidered to be Electric force atoms, or to always be associated 
with them. 

In a cell of the brain one of these atoms is impressed with a 
sensation, a thought; in effect as the artist’s plate is impressed, 
or as a business man writes a memoir on a paper and tucks it in 
a pigeon hole in his desk. 

The more of these atoms there are in a brain so impressed with 
different sensations or thoughts, the more mind there is, and this 
is the only way the mind is built up. 

To modulate from rock into brain or gray matter is evident; 
but, to modulate rock into mind would be some like making old 
junk into watch springs when there is plenty of pure, new, fine 
material ready at hand, to be stamped. 

Nature operates in circles, but not always in the same circle. 
The rock is from the same kind of atoms as the mind, only in a 
different way. Visible Art, and invisible Nature— The 
Twain are of one flesh. 

How far can this line of reasoning extend supported by 
twentieth century facts? It will be necessary to extend to a 
certain extent, the teachings of both Descartes and Spinoza, and 
possibly shock the sensibilities of some sectarians who base their 
understanding upon faith, instead of philosophy. 


96 


That, through molecule or germ, to the positive and negative 
extenuately extensible, transparently invisible prime atom, is, 
reached the ultimate subdivision physically considered, of all the 
properties—visible or invisible—spiritual or tangible—of the 
whole God—it seems, affords a chain of light supported at this 
time with so many tested links from experience, that Psychology 
ought to be able to connect up the chain in many places with 
links supported with such strong evidence that doubt can scarcely 
enter. 

To do this, many of the present day understandings and poorly 
supported theories must be swept aside; they appear to be anti¬ 
quated—not in accord with reason. 

Mystifying scientific cognomens, and tabulated calculations of 
experimental, collegiate operations must be good things for the 
college professors to have. Established truths, whether, from 
such experiments or otherwise, carry the “true value.” 

Equally in the outside business world of experience, or from 
the delving research of the plodding philosopher in his lonely 
den, contemplating the progress, and processes of nature—a 
broader field—for which, thanks to those venerable forefathers 
who, little by little, step by step, through long-suffering experi¬ 
ences of past centuries have led up through bad judgment, super¬ 
stition, persecution, sacrifice and bloodshed to a discovery of the 
principles and those processes of nature which, if known, and 
practiced , yield to man his rights. 


The Force of God. 

Electricity, is a universally diffused, blended, and infinitely 
atomic entity, beyond analysis except into a positive and nega¬ 
tive nature. These positive and negative qualities are displayed 
in some manner in all of Nature’s works. 

These atoms must constitute an extenuately extensible and 
prehensile fluid that may be organized or polarized so that the 
positive force operates in one direction, and the negative nature, 
or force operates in the opposite direction. 


97 


The positive atoms thus polarized have a powerful force 
extending out, and reaching for the negative nature, and an affin¬ 
ity working in the opposite direction is possessed by the negative 
nature of the atoms. These natures in any development may 
vary in any fixed proportion, producing all manner of results, 
from invisible air to water, to glass, all degrees to the opaque, 
either fluid or solid. 

It becomes apparent that the field of possibilities for such 
atoms, possessing such qualities, is like the field of possibilities 
of human beings—unlimited. 

In a de-polarized condition the positive and negative atoms 
are blended, and attracting and repelling in any and all direc¬ 
tions—exert no definite extended force, only sufficient to con¬ 
gregate molecules or modulations together; discoverable to a great 
or less degree in any and all structures, and in gravitation. 

The difference between free Electricity and magnetism:—Free 
Electricity is depolarized, and not perceptibly held in cohesive 
or gravitating force between the molecules of a visible body. 

Magnetism, is Electricity that is polarized, and is not ab¬ 
solutely free, but is held more or less tenaciously between mole¬ 
cules of a visible body—steel or loadstone. 

Gravitation, is the general radiation of Electric force according 
to the state of polarization in the Earth or in the body con¬ 
sidered. 

Human beings most perfectly typify these atoms of Electricity; 
because human beings are but a compilation of them. 

Domestic, simple minded, unorganized human intellects are 
easily influenced (brushed) into polarized (organized) conditions, 
making armies:—positive—courage all to the front; negative all 
to the rear. In peace the forces are blended, or operated in all 
directions. In sex the positive organization is male; and in the 
female a negative organization; developing the peculiar character¬ 
istics. 

“Latent Life is contained in a small globule, a mere atom of 
matter, in the spermatozoon. This element is something which, 
under certain conditions, develops into living organisms. The 


98 


entire realm of nature teems with these interesting phenomena, thus 
manifesting that adjustment of internal to external relations, 
which claims our profoundest attention. 

We are simply humble scholars waiting on the threshold of 
nature’s glorious sanctuary, to receive the interpretation of her 
divine mysteries. 

Magnify this infinitesimal atom a thousand times, and no 
congeries of formative powers is perceived wherewith to work out 
the wonders of its existence. Yet it contains the principle, which 
is contributed on the part of the male toward the generation of a 
new being. 

Touch together a spermatozoon and a germ-cell (ovum) and 
impregnation instantly takes place; but the husk, the visible 
substance of the spermatozoon immediately shrinks, as lifeless; 
while the ovum expands in development.” 

(R. V. Pierce, Biology.) 

Only one modulation of infinite numbers, that those little atoms 
are capable of performing. 

Simply a new birth—a re-incarnated Electric, atomic, soul; 
from the coming together of the Electrically surcharged and 
polarized positive and negative—male and female—forces of God. 
So generates the thunder’s bolt. So sons, and suns, are born. 

Here, then—in electricity— is discovered the “alcahest 

-ALL SPIRIT — QUINTESSENCE-PHILOSOPHER’S STONE-UNI¬ 
VERSAL MEDICINE AND IRRESISTIBLE SOLVENT,” of the alchemist, 

Paracelsus. 

We see in nature many displays of matter modulated from a 
state that is visible to one that is invisible, and from the invisible 
to the visible; and we know that in whichever state it exists it 
must he matter. 

Supposing Oxygen, which constitutes eight-ninths of water (in 
weight) is made up of a predominance of positive atoms; and, 
supposing Nitrogen, which constitutes nearly four-fifths of air, to 
be of a preponderance of negative atoms of Electricity; then, 
starting with the unified Sperm and Germ Cell—The Soul—The 
racially impressed accretion of atoms that possess the extenuat¬ 
ing extensible positive or negative force, (like the force in a mag¬ 
net,) and, the fundamentals are laid for developing from invisible , 


99 


Electric atoms into visible, material species.— All are built up by 
the magnetic extensible force reaching its prehensile negative, 
force quality from the germ, the buds, the spires, the physical 
organs, into the infinite volume of free positive, atoms in the 
oxygen of water in the earth or composing the sap of vegetation, 
or the fluids in the stomach or circulation of animals, and 
drawing those positive, atoms that are of the right shape or im¬ 
press to produce the peculiar species unto itself, like a magnet; 
and hold them there modulated (married) into a visible, part of the 
cellular structure. 

The positive, magnetic force, reaching out in the opposite 
direction into the air from every bud, and spire of grass, and 
growing organism, into the negative, mass of atoms constituting 
the nitrogen of air, and drawing invisible atoms and thus doing 
its part in changing to visible vegetation, and animal life, in all 
their species, forms and aspects. 

Only magnetic electric accretions, visualized to the 

LIMIT OF THE RADIATING FORCE OF THE PECULIAR GERM OR SOUL! 

Proof sufficiently absolute to afford Court evidence that the 
Body, and Soul, and Mind or Spirit, are impressed atoms of Elec¬ 
tric Matter—Immortal!* 

If these claims are true, how stand the great questions of life— 
Religion—Morality— true Selfishness—and War? 

Free electricity, is that which has not been changed into 
visualized material; and it flows freely through copper, water, 
vegetation and animal bodies; consequently these will not cohere 
or hang to the atoms as a steel magnet does; therefore no visible 
effect from a magnet unless the magnet is made a part of a circuit 
and the free Electricity is then pulled through the whole circuit as 
a polarized belt, and, as is done when taking a shock. 

Vegetable matter, modulates into fluid,—water—disappears 
in the air, and re-appears in the clouds, and changes to a solid in 
ice. Invisible air, can be changed into fluid, visible air. Fuels, 
oils, all vegetable substances, by heat disintegrate and become 
invisible. Many substances are convertible into gas, invisible. 

♦See —Crosse, Andrew—Chamber’s Encyclopedia. 


100 


Natuke, converts invisible matter into bluing to color all 
the blueberries, into green to color all the leaves or into any other 
color for the fruits, flowers, foliage, flesh, fiber, and all things 
else. 

Why is an invisible material spirit or soul to raise a question? 

Whatever a well balanced mind believes instinctively, and also 
by sound reasoning, and backed up by a world full of indisputable 
natural facts, is very likely to be close to the truth. 

The basic philosophy of health, consists in understanding 
how to maintain the natural harmony of Electrical polarization; 
for upon that depends the perfect operation of the vitality, in 
carrying on the circulation, the assimilation, excretion and all 
necessary functions. Nature’s compounds are pure air, pure 
water and pure food. It is nature’s order that you have all these 
at your own command; they are nature’s medicine. Friction, 
or irritation polarizes, or as a counter irritant, may de-polarize; 
therefore a powerful influence in treatment, especially in nervous 
or sexual affairs. 

The positive and negative prime atoms unite, and settle down 
to a visible material existence, according to their previously im¬ 
pressed shape and character for building the peculiar species; the 
extenuating magnetic attraction or love absorbed between the 
affinities. 

If improperly united, that is, for supposition, two or more 
positives to one negative, (polyandria,) or, two or more negatives 
to one positive, (polygamy,) when such unions attempt to circu¬ 
late in normal fluids of the body or in normal society, the result is, 
Fever, Rheumatism, Convulsions, Smallpox, or some other diffi¬ 
culty peculiar to the microbe produced by such adulterous unions 
m such places. The question whether such microbes can be 
smoked out or killed by antitoxines, each one must judge from 
good sense. 

Instinct gives introduction to proper treatmentThe joints 
ache, the muscles are sore, and the hand involuntarily goes to the 
spot, and gives it a good rubbing; and that is just what is needed* 


101 


Master the philosophy of physical Electrical polarization, and 
de-polarization, and the terrible microbes and death dealing germs 
will principally have disappeared. 

Especially is the field of possible operation extended, when it is 
understood that this Electric atomic force fluid passes into and 
through all things more or less jreely . It is in, and is everything 
and everywhere, except in some parts of interstellar space. The 
will power of mind controls atomic Electricity; knowing and exer ¬ 
cising this, constitutes natural science , not “ Christian science/' 

By the influence of rubbing, that is, by friction in one direction 
these confused atoms of force are organized or polarized so that 
the positives and negatives are joined, drawing in opposite direc¬ 
tions alternately between each other; forming an interwoven cable 
of great strength; and, as the air and earth are permeated with and 
made up of these atoms, there is no limit to the columns of forces 
that may be so lined up into a great cable or belt, (by bringing it 
around into a circuit;) this belt, in this polarized condition has no 
force as a whole, to move one way or the other any more than a 
leather belt; but, when formed in the wires and connected with 
the rotars to which an engine is attached, it moves around the 
(crooked) circuit, yielding like water to fill any space; abundance 
of atoms always ready to be brushed into the ranks. 

It may therefore be seen that this belt as a whole cannot be 
broken so long as all parts of the circuit stands the increasing 
forces required to carry any increasing load; but by friction, 
atoms of this belt may be forced apart, or detached ; when forced 
apart, intense heat is the result. Heat rarefies the air and the 
separated flying atoms become brilliant until cooled again to a 
lower temperature, and passed beyond the rarefied stratum leav¬ 
ing them again out of the polarized ranks in the moving belt:— 
therefore, heat is produced by detaching from a stored supply, 
these atoms; and light is produced, and reflected from these heated 
atoms in rarefied air. The rotar in the motor detaches no atoms 
from the belt so long as it moves with it; consequently no heat 
or light. 


102 


All heat, all light, all fire, and all physical force 
there is in the Earth , or in the planetary universe is of this nature; 
and analogous to these processes. 

Heat is a disorganizer, but it cannot destroy atoms of force— 
Electricity—life. Fire will dissolve molecules and separate them 
into atoms, but those atoms may again modulate into other organ¬ 
izations, either visible , or invisible. 

In a combination peculiar to brimstone on matches, positive 
and negative atoms are rent asunder by friction, producing heat, 
light and flying sapping noise, the same as an Electric spark. In 
burning wood or coal, heat separates the atoms that have been 
stored, and held in a dormant combination, and the heat and light, 
from the decomposition goes on to entire dissolution; the atorps 
all returned to the general supply. Atoms from emery wheels fly 
in bright sparks. The horse hits his shoe against a stone and the 
fire flies. The old flint lock guns would draw fire from stone or 
steel. All going to show that the atoms that produce heat and 
light are everywhere. 

Electricity, has a stronger gravitating affinity for water than 
for air; but a stronger affinity for air than for a de-polarized mass 
of condensed fluid Electricity such as composes the ball that makes 
the lightning; hence when two clouds charged with Electricity 
become polarized by the friction caused by varying moving tem¬ 
peratures, the atoms of Electricity are violently drawn together 
into a condensed mass but do not retain their polarization, there¬ 
fore, as the transparent, invisible, non-luminous ball rushes by 
magnetic force toward the earth or to some greater attraction, it 
nt once begins to heat by friction and separate atoms that pass 
through the stratum of rarefied air bordering the streak of vacuum 
in the trail, and produces the bright light; as all light is produced. 
The ball entirely dissolves in this way unless it reaches the earth 
"before total dissolution. 

God Defined. 

Doubtless for a finite being to attempt to define and explain 
what God is, and the course and nature of his development, by 


103 


many (disregarding Pantheism and Bible literature) will be 
pronounced a desecration of reason, propriety, philosophy and of 
God himself. However, notwithstanding it has been pertinently 
said, “ The greatest study of mankind is man/’ pardon is with con¬ 
sideration asked for the declaration—The greatest study of man¬ 
kind is God. 

It must be agreed that the highest quality, is wisdom. What 
is God’s wisdom expressed in short? It is answered—Impressed 
prime atoms—progressing. 

How are atoms impressed to develop wisdom? 

By experiences of life stamping the resultant understanding, or 
philosophy of that life upon the prime Electric atoms which are 
in and compose the body and soul, of lives. 

How is that made to rationally appear? 

Rationally, means reason, by the mind’s eye. To this may be 
added the multitudes of operating evidences going on in nature 
and in business affairs continually all about us. 

Atomic Wisdom (God) consists of an instinctive fitness for all 
characteristic properties or qualities—fitted, shaped or impressed 
atoms—aggregate. 

“Gray matter” wisdom (not soul, or instinct) has to do only 
with the local affairs of a life, except for the more important moral, 
impress, upon the soul:—“Moral,” because immoral brings suffer¬ 
ing, and will not develop, or survive, through the broad field of 
Nature. This is a matter worthy of every individual’s atten¬ 
tion, IN HIS OWN INTEREST. It IS, “SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.” 

A business man’s desk with its pigeon holes in which he stores 
his assorted memoirs, has the prototype in the natural soul, and 
cellular brain. The man’s memory is on the impressed papers in 
the pigeon holes of his desk, in details; the soul’s memory is 
-on the impressed atoms in the pigeon holes (cells) in the brain. 

The detail memoirs of either the man, or the soul, can be scat¬ 
tered and not destroy the Ego of either man or soul, or destroy 
the basic moral of understanding, or the ability to compile 
another accumulation of memoirs based upon a broader instinc¬ 
tive understanding. 


104 


The desk for storage is not necessarily of oak, or of “gray mat- 
ter.” If, of an entity as effective as Electricity is in its operations, 
we could have no fault to find, only that oak, and gray matter 
would be out of usefulness. (Oak and gray matter are only 
modulations of Electricity.) 

In the migrations or transmigrations of body or soul, it would 
not be good policy to be overburdened with numerous minor de¬ 
tails in packages or boxes of papers; or in details of life’s experi¬ 
ences. The basic moral, the general whole, contains the true 
value: —hence, the natural disposition* of instinctive ability of a 
young life; without memory of former existences, in earth’s 
experiences, sometimes to an extent to be looked upon as a, 
natural freak. 

The prime Electric fluid atoms that have received while in 
the cell of a brain, impressions (as an artist’s plate ) by means of 
the senses of sight, taste, hearing, feeling, etc., constitute what 
we call thought; and the aggregate of such impressed atoms in 
the gray matter cells constitutes the mind. 

Two pictures made of material matter that in each is exactly 
alike in substance, yet the pictures are not alike at all. Is the 
difference, matter, or, is it an impressionf The import of the an¬ 
swer, constitutes the difference between mind, and matter. 

The impressed Electric atoms that have passed through a 
cellular gray matter existence and flowed back into the great 
diffused mass, may be called Atomic fluid wisdom; and, together 
with the soul accretion and the unimpressed Electric force atoms, 
make the Great Whole—God—and constitutes a circulating 
fluid, not limited to the Solar System, but circulates by a real 
mechanical process throughout the whole stellar universe: therefore 
God consists of all developed wisdom, and all the other simple, 
or modulated prime Electric force, substance. 

God is not an aggressor in human voluntary affairs, only through 
natural, moral wisdom, —instinct. 

The first shaping or impressing of prime atoms took place at 
the very beginning of experience; for it is only by experience 
that an impress, can be produced or improved. 


105 


When repeated experience through many lives, has developed 
instinctive perfection in the shaping of prime atoms to an extent 
sufficient to build a surviving species, then, just so much of Na¬ 
ture’s or God’s wisdom has been produced, and is manifest in that 
species, and here is found the origin, and characteristic mind, and 
physical developments of all species. 

When a species, by successive life experiences come to under¬ 
stand truth better, the unmodulated atoms in that species’ 
makeup, are impressed or modulated accordingly; and when 
enough are so fitted by the improved understanding to build an 
improved race, then Nature’s or God’s wisdom has developed 
accordingly. 

Those atoms or parts, or tools, are all in existence and being 
used in the places they are fitted for, over and over in succeeding 
lives. In this process, there could have been no pre-meditation, 
no knew-it-all pre-arrangement:—Only, pre-existing force, —invis¬ 
ible matter—Electricity—in God. 

Apply this to Darwin’s theory of development and it may be 
seen that the “Missing Links,” are all bridged over by passing 
from visible, ignorant construction, (by means of improved 
knowledge by experience—invisible instinct—wisdom—soul,) 
reincarnated, and developing according to the improved instinct 
a freak, an improved construction, a new species. 

Mental freaks, perhaps one in a million to the better, are being 
produced today; but, in Art, or in Nature, neither man, nor a 
circle, will ever develop wings as physical improvements; al¬ 
though sensations, and instinct, have an unlimited field for im¬ 
provement. 

The perfection of character—wisdom—soul—must come to 
completion ages after the animal structure, has reached the un¬ 
thinking, involuntary, instinctively constructed perfection, of a 
circle. 

All improvement and wisdom comes through life’s experiences. 

By studying a common horse shoe magneto, such as are fixed 
up for giving shocks for medical purposes, it may be seen that a 


106 


cable or belt is made up of interlocked polarized atoms of Electric¬ 
ity: These atoms are positive and negative, and to our vision 
are best shown up in form, (although the extenuating extensi¬ 
bility is evidently changeable to almost any degree,) by the sper¬ 
matozoon as may be seen in any up-to-date work on medical 
biology. (Fig. 1 p. 114.) These atomic germs are without doubt 
Electric atoms, blended with sufficient material to make them 
visible. The belt is made up of the polarized Electricity in the 
magnet, connected to the Electricity in the extending wires, and 
may complete the circuit with Electricity in human bodies. This 
belt will not move itself; but by a rotar or revolving armature so 
arranged that constant magnetic force is applied to the belt, 
then it is pulled around the circuit, and draws the life atoms out 
of the body; but as many more are drawn in; and these new 
Electric life atoms appear to take hold and do the work of life 
as well as those that were drawn out; but if the volume of the 
polarized belt is so great that it requires all the Electricity in a 
body to complete the circuit, then, the accretion constituting the 
soul, will be drawn out and no such accretion is likely to be 
drawn in; hence, the work in the body comes to a stop, 
“Electrocuted.” 

Investigate to learn, if here is not proof that our bodies, 
our lives, our souls are not Electric. If our lives, bodies and souls 
are not of the same substantial element that composes every¬ 
thing that we see or feel. And remember that no atom of any 
of these things ever dies, is ever cast upon the satellitic junk 
heap, until the species by, and for which they were fitted, ceases 
to be produced, and has become extinct. 

Oxygen, Hydrogen, Nitrogen and Carbon, all have common 
characteristics with the results from Electric atoms; they are 
necessary in attendance to obtain light and heat, or to give rise 
to a powerful explosion; there appears therefore to be “rational’* 
evidence that by an extension of the peculiar results in nature of 
different proportional mixtures, (of which many are now known,) 
may include oxygen, hydrogen, etc., as modulations of Electrical 
atoms in peculiar combinations; and tending strongly to show 


107 


that Electricity is, the prime substance of air, water, and matter, 
and, next to wisdom—in God—the aggregate. 

If a man and woman face each other and are naturally polarized 
the result is union,—barring wisdom; if they are forced apart, 
the result is restlessness, heat. 

(It might not be good philosophy to say they would shine in 
a vacuum, but safe to say close to it.) 

When forced from homes and families and organized (polar¬ 
ized) into armies as is now the condition in Europe, war is the 
result:—Europe on fire—countries the fuel, disintegrated* 
Wisdom— morality only, can save and control it all. Is wisdom 
a separate entity, as Descartes found? 

The wisdom of God is the aggregate of impressed atoms— 
operative philosophically, or, in pre-meditation effectively, only 
while occupying a cellular brain; therefore praying without effort, 
can be only, to the operative wisdom within, and equivalent to 
mental self-abuse. 

Truth, Honesty, and Unselfishness, in administration of 
principle, of morality, is the highest quality of Wisdom; there¬ 
fore until such administration, of such truth, and principle, is 
practiced in Europe—or, anywhere else— God is an outcast: and 
that includes the souls, of men. 

“Were half the power that fills the world with terror, 

Were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts, 
Given to redeem the human mind from error, 

There were no need of arsenals and forts:” 

{Longfellow.) 

Were half the nonsense that fills the daily press, 

Improper profits from traffic in unearned funds, 

Withheld—Twould save the striving masses from distress, 

Truth, and justice, from false duress — 

There would be no need of officers, or guns. 

Railroad business, is being limited to a 11 proper, use and 


108 


benefit” :—A limitation of New Hampshire titles for over one hun¬ 
dred years. 

Traffic in produce, or money, is not limited in yearly gains, 
received by unlimited schedule prices, operated with full liberty 
to rebate, and, in practice, pays a public charge only on things 
that may, be on hand and seen, at a set day of time. 

Agriculture*—the home, is limited to the annual production, 
and, in practice, pays a public charge on indefinite years of 
expenses, necessities, fads and fancies, that enter into a price, in 
disposing of home and means of keeping a family alive. 

Labor, finds its home and employment in production—in agri¬ 
culture in nature—else, looks in vain for a home and service with 
operators of a depleted supply of Labor's products. 

To take note, raises the cry—Kicker! Socialism! Robber! 
Anarchy! What is, Wisdomf —enquires Socrates. 

Little traffic, don't forget— An improper tilt which 
will ROLL TEN cents into your, dish, will roll a deluge, like the 
Ocean , to engulf the whole. 

It may also be well to remember that the exhausting results 
of a long continued and high Fever—or, of high pressure Traffic 
Affairs, (called “Business,”) cannot be restored to a normal 
temperature, or, to normal social condition by any M.D. or 
LL.D., Governor or President; without first passing through 
the inevitable results of a depleted vitality, or, depleted 
natural resources, natural production or natural rights.—To 
Remember—The medicine of the great and wise lawyer—Solon— 
placing a direct Tax on income” of those who can possess 
intangibles, and, an indirect (Selling Value) tax, on those who 
cannot possess intangibles, or make a business of dealing in 
profits—can never, restore normal conditions or, normal society. 
If Fever continues—unless new fields can always be found—Dis¬ 
solution, or slavery is the result, in The Progress of Nature. 

There is more inherent force in a human being than in any 
animal or thing. What machine will operate seventy to ninety 

* See—Oliver Goldsmith’s The Deserted Village. 


109 


years continuously? What animal can travel fifty miles a day 
continuously? It is evident that the human body and mind 
holds in its makeup more active Electric atoms of force than any 
other body of equal weight except a ball of lightning. Electricity 
in some of its conditions, is strongly and rapidly drawn into the 
Earth; we see this in the lightning. Where the great supply of 
atomic force of the dead soldiers goes to is not now, for certain 
known; but very likely into the Earth. 

By peculiar variations in atmospheric temperature, moisture, 
and Electric conditions, we see balls of liquefied Electricity dart 
from cloud to cloud or, from cloud to Earth with such force that 
the hardest timbers have been seen reduced to fine splinters, 
great trees smashed down, and the Earth shaken. 

Now will some one who has thought upon this matter, tell us 
why these same conditions of varying temperatures, moisture, 
Electric surcharges, etc., may not develop in the Earth, as in 
the clouds, and a huge bolt of this prime force tear its way through, 
causing earthquakes? Europe on the north, and the heated 
volcanic region in the Earth south of Italy would make an ideal 
field for such play of the elements. 

The character of souls, is manifest through the instinctive 
disposition; this disposition or natural tendency is improved 
only by long and severe experiences, that in time, leave an 
impress fixed in the souls of men. When the immortal souls of 
men are developed to instinctively know , and practice abso¬ 
lute morality , then only, will they deserve to be freed from the 
suffering of transgression. 

Genesis. 

Like the condensing molecules of moisture in forming the rain¬ 
drop, like the instantaneous condensation of the naturally 
polarized molecules of Electricity arising from a moistened atmos¬ 
pheric surcharge into a ball of lightning like a miniature sun, 
drawn by the powerfully magnetic Electric force into the Earth, 
(a great rotor,) where it proceeds on its course—in like manner 
it may be reasonably understood, the Electrical force quality of 
8 


110 


the Spinozean “Original—God Substance”—within the con¬ 
fines of the Solar System—like the thunder’s bolt instantaneously 
condensed; but without a roll of thunder. 

There would be no outside magnetic, gravitating, force of any 
kind; for, within the limits of this solar condensation there could 
have been no other consolidated substance having an attractive 
force:—hence, the Great Sun—a modulated property of primar¬ 
ily blended substance, remained silently and stationary; except 
for a rotating, and infinite force that swings the whole Solar 
System through space in an infinitely great circle. We may rea¬ 
sonably consider the sun a condensation of the more purely 
mobile, Electric atomic force quality. 

Thus modified the remaining blended, less mobile property, 
broke up into subdivisions and condensed; and being operated 
upon by a magnetic cable belt force, from the previously con¬ 
densed sun, swung around it as a center, in their planetary orbits. 
Thus, space was cleared of these originally blended composite 
elements or factors, leaving probably certain ethereal elements 
throughout space; and very likely greatly rarefied remains of the 
less mobile substance, giving rise to comets, shooting stars and 
meteors; all of which are as scavengers picking up the waste, 
and finally finding their resting place, in the planets. 

There is a close approximation to indubitable evidence, that 
there is a supreme impelling constant force being imparted to the 
Earth, (rotating from west to east,) at, and in proximity to the 
magnetic equator. 

This force coming from, or through the sun upon a polarized 
magnetic cable or belt made up of Electric atoms, is thrown off 
in more or less deflected currents and diffused in part in the air 
and the Earth. Near the equator there are evidences of a great 
supply of free Electric fluid; for there occurs daily, at quite 
regular hours, very severe Electric thunder showers. 

Electricity easily moves through water; therefore water is not 
forced forward at the equator as fast, and consequently falls 
back toward the west, giving the appearance of a westward 
current at the equator. All the other constant currents either of 


Ill 


water or of air, are but deflected currents arising from, and con¬ 
tinued by local conditions. 

Unless nature has some means, or conditions causing this great 
belt to cross itself like an ordinary cross belt, all the planets must 
move in nearly the same direction and in the same zodiacal plane. 

If our atmosphere and other conditions were like those of 
Jupiter or Saturn the great Solar Electrical Belt would be visible 
the same as their rings or belts are visible or, invisible when in 
the opposite half of their orbits; exactly the same as if viewing 
a pulley from the side receiving the belt. The belt cannot be 
seen around the opposite side, and there is no belt around in 
contact with the front side. Saturn’s rings are Electric light 
from contact of this belt in the surface of its atmosphere. 

The planets are all drawn toward the easterly, or pulling side 
of the belts; consequently, being free to move that way, follow 
that pull in orbital courses in that direction. (See plate p. 114.) 

About the 14th of November the Earth, in its annual course 
around the sun comes in juxtaposition with the Great Belt from 
Infinity, and draws into its rarefied air Electric detachments, 
which produce the moving lights or meteors being drawn toward 
the Earth, and, after passing through the rarefied stratum cease 
to give light, and become a part of our Electrical capital direct 
from the Great Center beyond the sun. 

The Earth’s orbit evidently passes through, or very close to 
the Great Belt each 32 or 33 years, giving rise to the majestic 
meteoric showers. 

Aerolites, or Meteoric Stones must be more sporadic—must 
be materialized accretions from space. (See Encyclopedias.) 

Human enterprise always develops a grout or waste pile; it 
may be of old and useless tools—out of date—or a lot of cog wheels 
that are not rightly shaped, or impressed in a way that will 
admit of their use in any—now used—machine; consequently, by 
repellent force are shoved off into a grout pile, by itself. These 
human grout piles, not being of destroyed 'prime atoms, can be 
dissolved and reconstructed into useful products by man. 


112 


Ultimate, prime atoms in nature, that have been shaped 
or impressed by nature to be used to construct a development (a 
machine) that has been crowded off, and is no longer produced, 
(the Saurians, Dinosaurians—all extinct species or natures) 
being ultimate, cannot be dissolved and reconstructed at once; 
hence by repellent force are shoved off into the grout piles —the 
dead satellites —of Nature’s planetary work shops. 

Fossils are like old machines, not yet knocked down and cast 
upon the junk heap. 

These satellites do not revolve on their own axes but swing 
around the planets as if attached to them by a single connecting 
magnetic cable, holding the satellite rigidly attached to the cable. 
The tides of the oceans are caused by the magnetic force of this 
cable. The satellite is carried ahead in its course around the 
planet by the magnetic attraction between this cable and the 
great magnetic belt coming from the sun and around the planet; 
affecting the cable of the moons as if blown against by a strong 
steady wind. 

Notwithstanding the prevailing ideas, at this time laid 
down as natural laws of inertia,—Inertia must mean only a 
tendency of bodies to come to rest, unless Nature’s force is im¬ 
parted and continued. Motion without force is not conceivable; 
motion itself, is not force itself, therefore force must be in con¬ 
stant attendance. Neither is it conceivable that the Infinite, at 
one time expended force hurling these bodies into space, and then 
no further impetus imparted. No, Development cannot do that 
way. God does not take hold and then let go at once. 

All the developments that have ever been brought about have 
continued to be produced and supplied with force, notwithstand¬ 
ing many improvements later have developed; each one con¬ 
tinues being made, and receiving its full measure until crowded 
off by local conditions. 

With deep regard for the many truths and worthy efforts of 
Galileo, Newton, and others—exception must be taken to their 
first law of motion, viz.:—“Every body continues in its state of 


113 


rest or of uniform motion in a straight line, except in so far as it 
may be compelled by impressed force to change that state. ” 

This law would conform more to natural law, if it read—Every 
body, continues in its state of rest or of motion in a continually 
increasing curvature of course, around and around the center of 
nature’s attraction, until it comes to rest, to natural inertia; 
and, all that would tend to make it go straight, or to keep it 
always in motion, would be a secondary centrifugal impetus, 
which never succeeds in making any body, go in an absolutely 
straight line within the realms of nature. 

The law of Galileo and Newton make God’s Prime force, 
subordinate to the secondary centrifugal, or right angular sub¬ 
division of the prime force. (See plate, p. 114.) 

The monkey and the gorilla are made now, even though man 
considers himself an improvement, and evidently is, for if either 
are ever crowded off it will likely be the apes; for— Wisdom—Order 
—rules; but God don’t directly let go his force from anything. 

God does not, and did not depend upon bodies continuing in 
motion, and going in circular order, alone; ( for God is a develop¬ 
ment;) but, through and by means of Centers or Suns, a continued 
force is imparted to every atom in the universe. 

The planets would not continue in their orbits, did not the 
belts continue to draw on the easterly side (circuitously con¬ 
sidered,) of each. 

The positive and negative characteristics of atoms of Elec¬ 
tricity evidently are very close at least, to the basic tools for the 
operation; second only to the force of progressive, instinctive, 
Wisdom, which is necessary for development. 

Cannot atomic wisdom be as readily comprehended as atomic force 
—atoms impressed, by sensations of lives? 

It appears that art and nature, are twin brothers. 

Thus in GenesisDetected in part by Xenophanes, Leucip¬ 
pus, Democritus and Epicurus—B. C.; and recognized in part, 
by Paracelsus, Descartes, Spinoza, Darwin, Huxley and Spencer; 
but declared by Socrates, and Pyrrhon, to be beyond rational 
explanation, at their time. 


114 


From this great Bible—Nature—God—Wisdom—Develop¬ 
ment—what is further reasonably apparent? 

It seems reasonably apparent that premeditating reason, in 
details at least, within our Solar System exists only as impressed 
prime atoms; and become philosophic only by organization of 
those atoms into a soul and cellular brain; and whether that soul 
and brain is animal or vegetable, visible or invisible, it is only a 
part of God:—A development. 

That there may be a Godhead Development, at the Great 
Center, organized to premediate and to produce such a fluid, 
as we discover in Electricity, and pour it out into the realms of 
space to work out its prepared nature, seems to be beyond any 
one’s ability to deny or affirm; for, without natural points of 
'perpetual evidence, that may be seen by all , and understood— 
it is better to stake out no claim , but to work in a Common School 
of research—than to continue in the warring delusions of the 
past two thousand years. 

Mechanical Universe. 

These observations are made with no ambition to be considered 
an iconoclast—with no intent to tear down any idols or ideals 
unless it is done by introducing more rational views , that can be 
placed upon a base of broader foundation , and more in accord with 
evidences of Nature’s progress. 

A Solar System connected with Electric fluid belts, traveling 
through space around some infinitely remote center connected 
evidently by the same kind of a belt, leads to understand a com¬ 
bined circulatory connection with an extensive stellar universe; 
conveying throughout the entire system the fluid atomic force, 
and atomic, or soul wisdom. 

Rational deductions:—Aboriginally developed souls of one 
sphere may find tolerant conditions for re-embodiment or rein¬ 
carnation in some other sphere; hence, the variety of persistent 
species. Offered, with profoundest respects for the true deduc¬ 
tions of Darwin, Spencer, and Huxley. 

This introduction of stellar germs cannot annul the develop- 






































115 


ment hypotheses of the venerable philosophic patriarchs; but 
provides “The missing links,” in the “Origin of Species.” 

“The period of rotation of the Sun upon its axis which Galileo 
was the first to calculate, takes place in about 25^ days and in 
the same direction that the Earth revolves.” 

The Earth is 24,800 miles around, multiply this by 25J gives 
629,280 miles as the circumference of the Sun at the contact of 
the belt on the solid surface. The circumference divided by 
3 1 /? gives 200,225 miles as the diameter of the body of the Sun. 
Its diameter by astronomical calculations is 850,100 miles, but 
this includes the atmosphere out to the Electrically lighted sur¬ 
face which figures to be about 325,000 miles above the solid 
surface, and very likely extends in a much more rarefied condi¬ 
tion much farther, causing the Electric corona. 

As early, or before the beginning of profane history, the Hin¬ 
dus, Persians, Chinese, Japanese, and Egyptians had, in their 
system of astronomical calculations, established a zodiacal belt, 
representing the course from west to east as the Sun appears 
to pass the permanent, fixed stars, in the heavens beyond; 
caused by the earth’s movement from west to east around the 
Sun. 

This apparent motion completes the circle of the zodiac each 
year, except it was after a time discovered that, after one hun¬ 
dred exact years, (one equinox to another,) the fixed stars appeared 
to have fallen back west one, and twenty-three-sixtieths of a 
degree. (1° 23.) 

Really, the Solar System moves ahead in an easterly direc¬ 
tion 1° 23' each 100 years; taking about 25,868 years for the 
Solar System to swing around the great driving central Orb, 
or System. 

If the curvature of the Sun’s progress could be ascertained, 
(which progress has, since the time of Hipparchus—B. C. 200— 
been one twelfth of the circle of the zodiac,) the direction of the 
great center, to which our destinies may, at some future time 
bring us, could be calculated; but its distance, seems to be be¬ 
yond calculation. 


116 


If the November meteors are from the Great Belt, the direc¬ 
tion at least, can be determined. 

A Great Center—Head Office—Power Station—Resplendent 
Quarters—Heaven—permeated with—receiving and discharg¬ 
ing by means of polarized magnetic molecules of Electric¬ 
ity, connected by the Infinite force into great cables, actually 
reaching out from the Centers and around each of the planets, 
holding them from flying off into space by centrifugal force, 
and revolving them all in the same direction nearly that the Sun 
revolves. 

A globe for a pulley, it may be seen, could take more cable like 
belts running to different sized globes, and vary the direction 
as much as the planets vary in their zodiacal plane, and Elec¬ 
trically, not violate the mechanical laws. 

The planets not resting upon their axes in stationary boxes, 
roll in these Electric cables, all nearly in the same plane in their 
orbits around the Sun. 

No resistance is offered to Electricity at an absolute zero tem¬ 
perature; hence the millions of miles of distance count for nothing. 

The great Electric flow occasioned by these cables through 
the outer rarefied strata of the Sun’s atmosphere produces the 
Sun’s light; which by reflection as a mirror reflects or flashes 
light, this great Electric light—The Sun—flashes its light from 
the surface, (varying according to density—corona) or near the 
surface, of its atmosphere, by means of an ethereal body per¬ 
vading all space. 

It is believed that separated atoms of Electricity passing 
freely through rarefied air will give light, and produce no great 
amount of heat; or, in any way wear out, or use up any of the 
atoms of Electricity any more than air or water wears out, or 
are used up; therefore, the Sun may not be very hot any more 
than the rotar in an Electric generator is hot. 

Heat cannot pass through millions of miles of zero 

TEMPERATURE (- 273 °) TO THE PLANETS AND REMAIN HEAT ALL 
THE WAY. 

Light and heat are, so far as this article goes to be considered 


117 


only results of God’s tools; molecules of oxygen, hydrogen,, 
nitrogen visible matter, etc., made up of Electricity; caused ta 
operate by the vitality and Wisdom of God. How God’s vital¬ 
ity is replenished, will be submitted, (with compliments,) to 
coming philosophers. 

It is suggested that Light and Heat are conserved, and no force 
from the Great Whole is lost, even in interstellar space. 

Such an Electric cable which, in miniature is being simi¬ 
larly used in every Electric plant, might contract or expand in 
its onward course through obstructing, heated and lighted air; 
passing through millions of miles of absolute zero space, expand 
to a volume that would entirely envelop the planets upon being 
reached; with the possible exception of Saturn and Jupiter, which 
have discoverable partial bands, or rings, seen from Earth, when 
in the required position; caused by peculiar magnetic and at¬ 
mospheric conditions. 

The Earth having a full enveloping body of atmosphere, and 
magnetic poles at its extremities, expands the great Electric 
Solar flow, and, in its rarefied condition produces only the 
Aurora, when coming in contact with our atmosphere. 

The Aurora is visible only when atmospheric conditions are right 
to produce, and make visible, this peculiar faint Electric light. 

The planets become polarized, and as magnets, having a posi¬ 
tive and a negative pole; and act as Rotars. 

The north magnetic pole of the Earth is now in Boothia penin¬ 
sular, near the Arctic Circle in British America. The south 
magnetic pole is in the Antarctic. 

Concentrated at these points it must be, an infinite supply 
of polarized Electricity is directed. 

Whether the great Solar Electric power belt can in any way 
be tapped, or short circuited to afford an infinite supply of power,, 
(without local power,) for all human needs is a matter perhaps 
worthy of investigation. 

If it could be done, it would be hazardous to short circuit 
through one of the earth’s poles, for it appears that to do so might 
throw the angle of the axis to a different degree. 


118 


Moral Results. 

There are positive and negative qualities of Electricity in the 
-constitution of everything:—true, false—Order, disorder—good, 
bad—brutal, angelic—war, peace—suffering, happiness—male, 
female, throughout the whole course of development up to the 
Infinite. 

From what does human wisdom, as well as racial physical 
development arise? From Sin, from Tragedy, War, and Suffer¬ 
ing in contrast with Truth, Virtue, Peace and Happiness? 

Could the Moral of a drama be brought out without such con¬ 
trasting scenes? Could elevating progress be made without 
these joys and sorrows? If not, then these positive and negative 
-experiences are for a general good; but, to be measured, long 
periods of time must intervene, until instinct and philosophy, 
stand united at the helm. 

Darwin has shown us that man is an improved animal, that it 
takes epochs of time to develop a new species; that is, to com¬ 
pletely change the natural germinating soul, to have new, pecu¬ 
liar specific instinctive traits. 

Lamentably it must be acknowledged that many of the per¬ 
nicious animal instincts, adhere in the mental faculties of our 
race, still. 

In support of Darwin, take examples from the extremes of 
profane history; look for unselfish morality in man’s history in 
the time of Israel, and an improvement can be seen; which is 
encouraging. We know the hard experiences that have been 
passed through to make this comparatively little gain. 

There can never come a time when time will not continue; 
there can never be a space where space is not; therefore, there is 
plenty of room for the good work to go on; and with full under¬ 
standing the work can be greatly accelerated. 

We have eyes in our faces with which we see the outside of 
only a part of the tools of nature. 

Man also has a Mind’s Eye that is likely to be fully as reliable, 
and must give the final view and understanding of things. This 


119 


<eye is the eye of Reason—philosophy —developed ages after the 
eye of the face looked out upon the superficial, material world, 
and after animal instinct had been developed. 

In fact this Mind’s Eye, is yet hardly open; just beginning 
to awake from the sleep of eternity. It presents a vision so intri¬ 
cate, so vast and wonderful, and presents such insurmountable 
tasks that, with a gap and a yawn, a relapse into an indefinite 
clumber is again, in mental indolence indulged; and as a result, 
the human nightmare of political and commercial robbery, 
devastation of Nature’s available resources, war and suffering 
go on, and on, until they may again start the dreaming intellect 
to open its mind's eye and look about. 

From investigation it may be deduced, that the ancient Greeks 
and Romans notwithstanding their never equaled fame for 
philosophic wisdom, did, in reality lack elements that have evi¬ 
dently made it possible that superstition, in relation to the philos¬ 
ophy of Spirit—Mind—Matter—Nature—God—set back the 
onward progress of man’s wisdom from two, to three thousand 
years. Yet, from a broader and more complete insight into these 
matters of human history it may be seen that, in The Progress 
of Nature , this was not a set back at all—Only a morning nap 
of Nature. 

The Greek accomplishments developed like a mushroom in a 
hot house; or, a beautiful, frail, rapidly extending plant, without 
the vital stamina of exposure; (Such was the wisdom of Democri¬ 
tus;) not fit to withstand, and did not withstand in its intelligence 
and beauly, the pitfalls of an exposed, existence.* These terrible 
experiences of the past two thousand years have been necessary 
to harden up, and make more vital and reliable:—To be fully 
accomplished only by sifting out the basic truths first, and dis- 
.carding error. 

“I know as my life grows older, 

And mine eyes have clearer sight 
That under each wrong, somewhere, 

There lies the root of right; 

^Apocrypha—Book of Wisdom (Extract, p. 135.) 


120 


That each sorrow has its purpose, 

By the sorrowing, oft unguessed; 

But as sure as the sun brings morning, 

Whatever is—is best.” 

—‘‘Best/’ in Nature’s present procession:— 

In the Progress of Nature, there is good evidence that the 
Genus Man, is just waking into the age of reliable reason, 
that will not again be deluded into slumber; that will see, and gain 
democratic justice, and open a vision into the wisdom of Nature 
and of God, and be freed from superstition. 

Is it not usually at about seventeen or eighteen years of age 
that an average boy drops sowing his wild oats, and takes on a. 
more rational, reliable, considerate view of affairs? 

Is it not at about twelve or thirteen that he begins to show 
an instinctive inclination to take notes or keep a diary? 

If so, then five years, or one fourteenth of a whole life passes 
between these points of time. 

The human race is beginning to awake to an idea of moral, 
reliable, personal, consideration of affairs. It commenced its 
first diary in the Brahminical, Vedic or great Epos writings, 
five thousand years ago. (A compilation of Instinct, and Ig¬ 
norance.) 

If the development is proportional between race and individual, 
five thousand equals a fourteenth, seventy thousand a whole,, 
and fifty-three or four thousand years the balance of human 
career approximately. 

If our sins against nature have, in fact, reduced the span of 
life from Methuselah’s 969 years down to our 70 or 80 years, it 
is possible the foregoing calculations may prove to require a 
little modification. . . . 

After knowing what is already known as facts of the possible 
accomplishments of atomic entities, it requires no apparent 
departure from reason to see in the mind’s eye, that the Soul, and 
the mind may be made up of atomic entities also. 

The atomic Soul—the Germ immortal, receiving no details— 


121 


only results—impressions from ages of transmigrated life ex¬ 
periences, all building up toward higher instincts tending to 
develop instinctive morality, that leads to immortality. 

To see that the mind and structure of a single span of life, 
must be a gradually compiled cellular composition of impressible 
atoms used as tools, over and over again in successive life struc¬ 
tures ; never worn out any more than other of God’s tools, water, 
.air, or simple Electricity wear out. 

That the Capital result of this whole universe is the 
development of Souls; and can come to perfection, only 
through hard experience, and good philosophy. 

In the circuitous operations of Nature’s forces it may be con¬ 
cluded that the Solar circuits are eventually completed by merg¬ 
ing into the great central Soul, Stellar Orb, by means of the great 
transmitting belts, all surplus energy over the required drafts 
of the planetary work shops, held in temporary reserve in the 
coal beds, the forests, in vegetation, animal and human life physi¬ 
cal and mental. And, the perfected product—Souls—where 
would they be likely to go? Where, the End? 

There can be no harm in realizing, in this connection, that a 
work shop must always be converting raw material— ignorant 
matter —force— into finished products— Moral Souls—and con¬ 
stantly shipping them away. 

An Infinite Wisdom—Compilation of Experience, that has 
developed such an existence as this, impressible slowly upon 
our sensations, can, without any reasonable question extend 
existence beyond the visible, material combination, into modula¬ 
tions just as much more grand and beautiful and wonderful 
beyond imagination, as this existence is beyond imagination with¬ 
out actually living in contact; and after living in actual contact 
for thousands of years yet, only a superficial and confused view 
and understanding of fundamental truth, free from all myth, 
has been reached. 

It appears to be a safe conclusion to arrive at, that all there is, 
is, God—that, if each does his best to hasten the age of a prac¬ 
ticed moral philosophy, dropping out all sharp practices and doing 


122 


his full duty according to the best light that can be got, it will, 
be as well with him. The wheels of Nature are rough, and 
turn slow, but they grind exceeding fine. 

It is historically evident that intelligent moral philosophy has 
not yet had its day:—that an idea of morality of any kind, was 
not developed into the thoughts or understanding of mind, ex¬ 
cept by ages of suffering experiences. 

In the Jewish branch of the human race at least, it appears in 
Biblical evidence that morality did not manifest an existence 
until about the time of the dissolution of their nation. This 
Jewish Bible history, reveals the centuries of animal joys and 
sorrows, wars and suffering, no philosophy, no reason, no truth; 
all superstition, selfishness, delusion absolute; until it culminated 
in despair, and the animal instincts were sufficiently subdued 
to admit a moral impress upon the soul;* but did not free the races 
from ignorance, selfishness, or superstition. As an outgrowth, 
these delusions have to recent time continued as credulous com¬ 
binations of Jewish hypocrisy, myth, selfishness and ignorance, 
grafted on to Greek moral, developing ridiculous ideolatry that so 
intoxicated the human ideals, as to develop the “Dark Ages,” 
“Lost Arts,” “Crusades,” “Inquisition,” “Indulgences,” “Jesus 
paid it all,” “Witchcraft,” “Scandalous Gossip ,” “Cheap De¬ 
crees,” “improper” annual money profits from titles and positions 
—out of the public—in this greedy mechanical, commercial 
age. 

Design, means to premediate, to contrive by means of reason, 
of brain power. 

Pure Instinct, means to naturally proceed; requiring less pre¬ 
meditation, less brain power, less schooling. It is a lesson al¬ 
ready so far, fixed in natural understanding, requiring so much 
less, thought. It is the base of character. It is the nature of 
the Soul. 

True Philosophy, means reason, mind power in discovering that 
which in nature, has already become fixed as soul instinct, and, 
possibly making an improvement. 


* Read Maccabees—Apocrypha. 


123 


Nature—God, means the accretion of all that has been in¬ 
stinctively fixed, in all past time and within the limits of the 
whole universe; and, as improvements become instinctive, physi¬ 
cal developments are improved accordingly. 

The logical deductions must be that—He who most rapidly 
brings his natural understanding , and 'practices , to an instinctive, 
fixed degree of perfect morality, and soul truth, voluntarily 
and spontaneously asserting itself, will be the one who will lead 
in the long race toward the goal to which all aspire. 

His reward, LIES IN HIS OWN EFFORTS, ONLY.*—That 
the force and intelligence which we call God, is not a philosophic, 
active, independent, premeditating, “gray matter” intelligence, 
independent of ourselves . God, is the perfection that lies in 
your own soul — instinct; built, and building up from the con¬ 
servation of worthy impressions upon atomic force, developing 
out of the philosophy of all experiences. 

All the intelligence of God is developed through life experi¬ 
ences of individuals; and your intelligence compares with God’s 
intelligence, just as it compares with the conserved intelligence 
of the whole universe for all past time, impressed upon invisible 
material Electric atoms; and, the beginning of all wisdom was 
the first impression, upon such a material atom:—Moot the 
question and say— Everything is Spirit —God— Electric: —It 
does not matter, that would be equally as true. 

A combination of myth and moral in any creed, (like the 
positive and negative forces of Electric atoms when blended,) 
neutralize each other; and, the whole contaminated fabric stands 
in obstruction to progress of positive moral truth; while original 
ignorance, and superstition, and sin, and war goes on, and on. 

Mental self-abuse consists in gratifying one’s own conscience 
by wishing, praying for good, while no moral practice is carried 
out to accomplish; and, if repeatedly indulged in, as surely 
develops impotency, as does the practice of physical self-abuse. 

The difference between man’s proceedings and Nature’s or 
God’s proceedings is—Man thinks, or tries to think of a lot of 

♦ gee —Book of Wisdom —in the Apocrypha. 


124 


good new ideas and have them legislated into statute; never 
remembered or honestly carried into force, or practiced. God 
practices nothing but proved results; and the proceedings for 
producing such results, can never lie idle, at any time. 

Morality is the highest quality of Wisdom: —What, but 
Morality, in the past management or in past diplomacy, (indi¬ 
vidually or governmentally,) could have saved the Nations of 
Europe from this Death Struggle? And, what but Morality 
can lay a base for peace, that will be enduring? Then, from 
whence comes Salvation? Will it come from an Ideolatry, 
standing upon a phantom pedestal of morality, that has been 
tried out in Europe for 1800 years, or, will it come from a Tan¬ 
gible, Supreme Morality; with credulous ideolatry salvation, 
relegated to the realms of “Innocuous Desuetude”? Don't 
forget Salvation! 

Nature, develops:—Man, schemes:—Man is a part of nature— 
therefore, Nature both develops and schemes. 

Man divides business into different departments—one, is for 
planning—scheming—philosophizing; all the other departments 
are for carrying out the very best, of those schemes or of those 
philosophies. • 

Nature also, has its scheming, philosophizing department; 
and, can you not guess where it is, remembering that man's 
brain is a part of Nature? And do you think Nature has no 
way to determine which is the scheme or the philosophy that is 
worth saving? 

An excessive command of dollars—of worldly wealth and power, 
to the devastation of all else, may be the instinctive stage of 
development in many; (a Jewish characteristic,) yet, Nature is 
slowly, but surely—by means of experience used as a tool— 
developing Wisdom — Morality —as results. 

(In no place in this work should the expressions—“Improper 
use and benefit''—“Improper, or excessive profits or possessions'' 
—be construed to have reference to the extent of a Standard 
that— Superlatively— is needed to be Nationally fixed:— By the 
most Worthy Spirit at the head, is being fixed:—For, to acquire 


125 


by honest principles, “a proper use and benefit,” and capital— 
individually—is the first, and one of the highest duties of all.) 

Swedenborg says St. Paul's is a lost soul; but without evidence, 
that proves nothing. 

St. Paul, it appears in historical evidence, lived a typical 
Jewish life with the introduction of a new, espoused fad—a fad, 
because the Jews never had any gray matter philosophy, with 
which to originate the morality that he preached:—That, evi¬ 
dently came from the early fountain of Greek philosophy that 
developed by reason —without heeding instinct. 

Jewish blind Instinct, and Greek Reason naturally, are both 
properties of man; but have never yet come to understand 

EACH OTHER IN PEACEFUL RECONCILIATION. 

Paul, (in despair of Jewish independence,) combined his imag¬ 
inary, instinctive personal God, with the cribbed Greek morality, 
and flogged the sins of the Corinthians and others:—Sins, that 
always develop as an inevitable natural outgrowth of happy 
country homes destroyed; as, by the “PUBLICAN” practices 
under Solon’s division of burdens, based upon “things” to one 
class and upon “profits,” to another. 

Psychological imaginings, (instinctive or otherwise,) either 
of Swedenborg, Billy Sunday, or of St. Paul, are no revelation 
of open truth to anyone else, unless backed up with natural 
evidence, that can be seen by any body, in any country, and is 
equal to court evidence. 

Ignorance, can assert an imaginary knew-it-all spirit or god, 
to create a universe out of nothing; but, to prove such to be 
true, requires the facts to be discoverable in Nature. 

“Nothing,” is an aberration of the imagination. Extension, 
duration, temperature, light or darkness exist without limit; and 
what results may evolve from these, philosophy cannot safely 
bound. 

Psychological imaginings, have developed devastating de¬ 
lusions of the unreasoning masses: —“The multitude of the wise 
is the welfare of the world; and giving heed unto the laws of wisdom, 
{morality,) is the assurance of incorruption.” 

4 


126 


Greek philosophy, imperfectly ignores instinct. Chris¬ 
tianity and Judaism imperfectly ignore philosophy, and are 
guided by instinct. 

Now, it may be seen that soul instinct, and gray matter 
philosophy are both constituent elements of man’s or nature’s 
scheming department; and before the workshop will run in 
harmonious order, it must be discovered that true philosophy, 
and natural instinct—or, gray matter and soul understanding 
— can, and must be brought together in common understanding 
of truth, supported by universal, natural, evidence. 

Such support of evidence, appears to have been an uni¬ 
versal deficiency, in all past works. And appears to be equally 
as deficient in Billy Sunday’s sermons of today—from which 
here is a typical extract: 

“ The full-fledged evolutionist, when he says his prayers, can only 
say: ‘Our father, up in a cocoanut tree, hallowed be thy name.' 
That's your prayer, old Darwin, and old devotee of Spencer. If 
God created the world, it didn't evolve, and if it evolved, God didn't 
create it, so you can take your monkey and go to the devil. The 
Bible and evolution are strangers .” 

The Bible depicts man’s origin as a noble one, while evolution 
would have you believe that man has to go all the way back to 
a low, groveling origin. 

There is a wide gap between evolution and the Bible. Evolu¬ 
tion is a spirit-killer. The Bible is part of the spirit. 

You will have to show me that there is something about man 
that is merely brain and body. Evolution stops with the brain 
and body, but the Bible goes far beyond. No animal possesses 
a soul. You can’t teach a hog or a cow or a horse morals. They 
haven’t a soul, although sometimes I think they might feel in¬ 
sulted if they were referred to as human beings. 

There are people living right here in Philadelphia—and who 
are perhaps right here in the tabernacle — who may like to be 
likened to a monkey. They are welcome to the thought.” 

This, is Billy Sunday’s evangelism —“By Je- 

Let us pray — . 



127 


Our Father (not who) which, in heavens, (not on) in Earth, 
From Central Suns—all things “ evolve ” —In air, in water, in 
you, and me; From all there is, “ Up in a cocoanut tree ”—Let it 
be plainly seen:—-If the world didn’t evolve , then nothing evolves; 
and praying or preaching can’t evolve a saint from a sinner. 
So, your instinct, and your philosophy are at variance; and you 

might as well “Take your old tabernacle and go to the d- 

d—digging after full truth, with it —Old Israel; and try to dis¬ 
cover something modern for enlightenment; to assist in steering 
clear of those old delusions, of credulous, party, Israelitic war 
hobbies— used since, to assist in carrying out the policy of divert¬ 
ing people’s attention from Solonistic, aristocratic—rule or ruin 
impositions. (Daniel 8:25; Colossians 2:8.) 

The “Exercise your own judgment,” policy of school 
education that has been introduced into the country schools, 
comes through instruction given our girls who, (it is coming to 
be required,) must attend State Normal School before being 
accepted as qualified teachers. 

“The principle, of the Normal School policy, finds its origin 
apparently in Rousseau’s “Emile” treating upon education 
according to nature—denominated Negative Education. Con¬ 
sists—from One to Five, of letting the child do as it pleases.” 

“From Five to Twelve —This most critical period, the educa¬ 
tion should be negative, and from natural consequences; nothing 
at all should be done toward moulding or forcing his mind.” 

“Education from Twelve to Fifteen —There are com¬ 
paratively few things to be known that are of value. Curiosity 
is the sole motive and sole guide. Reject those branches for 
which there is not natural taste, and depend upon instinct. There 
is little of book knowledge even in this period. Robinson Crusoe 
and a study of life according to nature, is the chief book 
recommended.” 

“Education from Fifteen to Twenty. —Hitherto Emile’s 
brain has been formed. (Reference is here made to the case of 
Hauser Kaspar, which may be found in Chambers’ Encyclo¬ 
pedia; to determine whether a brain will develop itself if left 
to its own inward inclinations or instincts.) Now the education 
is to be for social life and relationships with others. Love be- 


128 


comes the controlling motive; emotional development and moral 
perfection the goal.” 

“ According to this philosophy, Education is a natural, not 
an artificial, process. It is from within, not from without. It 
is built from natural instinct, not through response to external 
force, (impressions.) It is an expansion of natural powers 
not an acquisition of information.” 

Hence, judgment of value, is claimed to be expected, of little 
children without lessons; and our State Normal school teachers 
are telling, or introducing “Robinson Crusoe”; and, have many 
times given our common school children to understand they 
must exercise their own judgment, instead of learning lessons, 
rules, or formulas. 

Rousseau, with Diderot, Voltaire, and five others, were denom¬ 
inated—“The Encyclopedists.” They compiled an Encyclo¬ 
pedia of over 30 vol. about 1775. 

It is evident enough— There, was the great renascence of 
Greek constitutional, political, moral and pantheistic philoso¬ 
phy:—that Rousseau, in writing his “Emilus,” took the teach¬ 
ings of Epicurus for the basic principle; and the credulous, 
and catechistic religious 'practices , and conditions of peo¬ 
ple, as the object, for refutation. 

From the “Savoyard Vicar,” (an extract from Emilus, (or 
Emile,) it is made evident that this work, was directed against 
the religious abuses, in the catechistical teachings of 
mythical superstitions; (beyond any possibility of demonstra¬ 
tion by truth,) and was not intended to pertain to classic truths 
—“Common English”—or Common French—at all. 

It seems that somebody has most stupidly or dishonestly trans¬ 
posed the teachings of Epicurus and Rousseau, (certainly 
perverted truth) to read—Philosophy is to be naturally drawn 
out, of Common School children, instead of providing tools 
(rules) in childhood, with which the instinct in mature years, 
can build up philosophy, and thereby expand itself, and possibly 
develop a new creation. 

Philosophers are not found in childhood; else, they are short 
lived. 


129 


Neither can tools or rules, by creed catechisms, be imparted 
to children, (as by Rousseau) with which they can ever, reduce 
the Jewish u Cloud by day, and Pillar of fire by night/’ in co¬ 
partnership with the Brahminical “Trimurti” and Greek Moral 
—to twentieth century Nature. 

It is a fact that, prior to the French Revolution, in the com¬ 
mon schools, the religious catechisms were of the first, and at 
that time, almost considered the only, important matter for 
attention. 

Neither Spartan, nor modern aristocracy, has any right to 
maintain itself by imposing delusions—religious or otherwise— 
upon children in schools that the public support. 

It took lives of object lessons in nature, to discover that (z+ 
yY —x 2 -\-2xy-\-y 2 , —while the formula and analysis—the result of 
all those lives of natural object lessons, can be learned in a 
few minutes. 

There can be only one reason why such a policy of school edu¬ 
cation, at this age, should be imposed upon the common classes; 
and that reason, and the methods of carrying it into effect, would 
be such that, to realize them, makes Conscience revolt, and turn 
sick at heart.* 

Not wishing to write pages of repetitions, revolving around a 
single idea, (and that a poor one,) as is often done, pardon is 
asked for this repetition.—The instinct of the soul gets its ex¬ 
pansion, only from the outside; by means of nature’s tools. 

Nature’s tool for building up character, or instinct is reason 
or, philosophy. Tools to reason with, are the first tools needed; 
and are to be obtained largely in childhood. Tools—rules— 
receipts—definitions, must be plain, complete, accurate and 
fixed, to avoid confusion. Common English includes the tools, 
or rules for the common people. Uncommon tools or rules, 

SHOULD BE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO GET THE ADVANTAGE 
OF THEM. 

Without tools, the farmer cannot farm; the workman cannot 

* See Brief Course in History of Education. By Paul Monroe. In use in our Normal 
Schools, p. 280 to 409. (The Macmillan Co., 64-66 Fifth Ave., New York.) 


130 


work. The farmer’s farm, will not grow plows, harrows, or 
machines; they must come from the outside. Neither can 

THE INSTINCT, OF A CHILD, PRODUCE FROM WITHIN, the tool, 
the rule to find the least common multiple of two or more num¬ 
bers, and other tools necessary to carry on reason , with which to 
build up the understanding—the character—the instinct—the 
soul. 

There must be “A happy medium” between Spartan stoicism, 
and exaggerated and misconstrued Epicureanism. 

Instinctive wisdom of a soul is built up from individual ex¬ 
periences of all preceding life existences by means of impressible 
prime atoms in the brain cell. The soul—the character — serves 
as a committee of introduction, but develops from the results 
coming in from,' the resultant experiences. 

Practical Results 

A practical character, is one who is able to carry theory 
to a successful, practical, result. 

Theory and imagination, are exclusively factors of indi¬ 
vidual life; Nature in her works, outside of man’s works, never 
uses them. Theory and the imagination needs must precede 
any great achievement of mature man, either for good or evil. 

Galileo, Darwin, Spencer, Edison, Marconi, Madam Curie 
and the Wrights, each would have been classed as visionary 
fanatics had they not succeeded in guiding their efforts, prompted 
from the realms of the imagination, tempered by the power of 
reason, to a successful, convincing, practical, beneficial termina¬ 
tion. No greater benefactors of the human race have ever lived; 
their works are for the benefit of all for all time; but they each 
got more or less benefit from the tools gained in childhood. 

It may also be seen that theory guided only by the imagina¬ 
tion, without sound reason, has, through past generations been 
the cause of the greatest human calamities, when by delusions 
backed up by force, the people were made the subjects of wild, 
selfish, individual instinctive fancies. 


131 


Through sad experience recorded in the pages of history, we 
have, or should come to understand, it is not good to be led or 
controlled by selfish, unprincipled fanatics, for they are as crafty 
demoniac dreamers, with the faculty of humanity and reason 
dormant, and selfishness, and the imagination awake; and lead 
only to delusion, darkness and sorrow. 

Inventors and philosophers, are as wideawake dreamers, 
have had strong imaginative powers accompanied by strong 
power of practical reason; but during the modern period directed 
principally in the mechanical and commercial lines, to the neg¬ 
lect of general development in the minds of the people along the 
lines of honest political philosophy, and the natural practical, 
human welfare of the masses. 

When philosophy, invention, political economy, com¬ 
merce, INSTINCT AND SOCIAL HONOR JOIN HANDS FOR THE 

common good, then the realization of the highest human aspira¬ 
tion will be brought about; the accomplishment of which is 
clearly within the bounds of possibility. Galileo, Darwin and 
others offered theories relating to the progress of nature, 
the truths of which were at first considered inconsistent; but now 
their theories and reason are generally accepted as throwing 
great light upon these natural proceedings that were formerly 
solved by mythology and superstition. 

Such rapid and extensive progress in the discoveries of nature’s 
courses have been made in recent years in mechanical lines that 
the question is often asked:—Is there no end? Do we not now 
know about all there is to learn from nature? 

Such questions do not come from the deep thinking philoso¬ 
pher; for to him it is evident that the human accomplishments 
have never yet developed a strong, safe, mythless moral age of 
philosophy and wisdom , blessed with fair advantages of mechani¬ 
cal improvements to all. 

A most important deduction from the research of this work is, 
the vital necessity of holding to, and keeping in use all the truths 
of the constitution or of science made in the past; and from the 
constant application of them in true combinations, depend upon 


132 


making progress; rather than to attempt without such a founda¬ 
tion, to bring truth out of a flood of chaotic, inconsiderate, self¬ 
ish, delusive, short-sighted laws, or practices. 

The great mistake seems to be, we don’t pattern after nature, 
and stay squarely on the foundation of truths, that have been 
discovered in the past at great cost, and are recorded, (not yet, 
in our souls,) for our use, to build upon. 


A PSALM OF LIFE. 
Longfellow. 

Tell me not, in mournful numbers, 

“Life is but an empty dream!” 

For the soul is dead that slumbers, 

And things are not what they seem. 

Life is real! Life is earnest! 

And the grave is not its goal; 

“Dust thou art, to dust returnest,” 

Was not spoken of the soul.* 

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow, 

Is our destined end or way; 

But to act, that each to-morrow 
Finds us farther than to-day. 

Art is long, and Time is fleeting, 

And our hearts, though stout and brave, 
Still, like muffled drums, are beating 
Funeral marches to the grave. 

In the world’s broad field of battle, 

In the bivouac of Life, 

Be not like dumb, driven cattle! 

Be a hero in the strife! 

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant! 

Let the dead Past bury its dead! 

Act,—act in the living Present! 

(God) within, and God o’erhead! 


133 


Lives of great men all remind us 
We can make our lives sublime, 

And, departing, leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time; 

Footprints, that perhaps another, 
Sailing o'er life’s solemn main, 

A forlorn and shipwrecked brother, 
Seeing, shall take heart again. 

Let us, then, be up and doing, 
With a heart for any fate; 

Still achieving, still pursuing, 

Learn to labor and to wait. 


*Life is real! Life is earnest! 

And the grave is not its goal; 
Life thou art, to Life returnest, 
May he spoken of the soul. 


Nahum W. French was son of Joseph Whitcher and Eliza Wilson, French. Born at 
Haverhill, New Hampshire, Nov. 7, 1854. 


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136 


and meeteth them in every thought. 
17 For the very true beginning of her 
is the desire of discipline; and the 
care of discipline is love: 18 And 
love is the keeping of her laws; and 
the giving heed unto her laws is the 
assurance of incorruption; 19 And 
incorruption maketh us near unto 
God: 20 Therefore the desire of wis¬ 
dom bringeth to a kingdom. 21 If 
your delight be then in thrones and 
sceptres, O ye kings of the people, 
honour wisdom, that ye may reign 
for evermore. 22 As for wisdom, 
what she is, and how she came up, 
I will tell you, and will not hide 
mysteries from you: but will seek 
her out from the beginning of her 
nativity, and bring the knowledge of 
her into light, and will not pass over 
the truth. 23 Neither will I go with 
consuming envy; for such a man shall 
have no fellowship with wisdom. 
24 But the multitude of the wise is the 
welfare of the world: and a wise king 
is the upholding of the people. 25 
Receive therefore instruction through 
my words, and it shall do you 
good. 

Chap. VII. 

I myself also am a mortal man, like 
to all, and the offspring of him that 
was first made of the earth; 2 And 
in my mother’s womb was fashioned 
to be flesh in the time of ten months, 
being compacted in blood, of the seed 
of man, and the pleasure that came 
with sleep. 3 And when I was born, 

I drew in the common air, and fell 
upon the earth, which is of like 
nature, and the first voice which I 
uttered was crying, as all others do. 


4 I was nursed in swaddling-clothes, 
and that with cares. 5 For there is 
no king that had any other beginning 
of birth. 6 For all men have one 
entrance into fife, and the like going 
out. 7 Wherefore I prayed, and 
understanding was given me: I called 
upon God, and the spirit of wisdom 
came to me. 8 I preferred her before 
sceptres and thrones, and esteemed 
riches nothing in comparison of 
her. 9 Neither compared I unto her 
any precious stone, because all gold 
in respect of her is as a little sand, 
and silver shall be counted as clay 
before her. 10 I loved her above 
health and beauty, and chose to have 
her instead of light: for the light that 
cometh from her never goeth out. 
11 All good things together came to 
me with her, and innumerable riches 
in her hands. 12 And I rejoiced in 
them all, because wisdom goeth before 
them: and I knew not that she was 
the mother of them. 13 I learned 
diligently, and do communicate her 
liberally: I do not hide her riches. 14 
For she is a treasure unto men, that 
never faileth: which they that use 
become the friends of God, being 
commended for the gifts that come 
from learning. 

(Chap, viii, 17 Now, when I con¬ 
sidered these things in myself, and 
pondered them in my heart, how that 
to be allied unto wisdom is immortality; 
18 And great pleasure it is to have 
her friendship; and in the works of 
her hands are infinite riches; and in 
the exercise of conference with her, 
prudence; and in talking with her, a 
good report; I went about seeking 
how to take her to me. 19 For I 


137 


was awitty child,and had a good spirit.) 
15 God hath granted me to speak as I 
would, and to conceive as is meet for 
the things that are given me: because 
it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and 
directeth the wise. 16 For in his 
hand are both we and our words; all 
wisdom also, and knowledge of work¬ 
manship. 17 For he hath given me 
certain knowledge of the things that 
are, namely, to know how the world 
was made, and the operation of the 
elements: 18 The beginning, end¬ 
ing, and midst of the times: the alter¬ 
ations of the turnings of the sun, and 
the change of seasons: 19 The cir¬ 
cuits of years, and the positions of 
stars: 20 The natures of living 
creatures, and the furies of wild 
beasts: the violence of winds, and 
the reasonings of men: the diversities 
of plants, and the virtues of roots: 
21 And all such things as are either 
secret or manifest, them I know. 22 
For wisdom, which is the worker of 
all things, taught me: for in her is an 
understanding spirit, holy, one only, 
manifold, subtil, lively, clear, unde¬ 
filed, plain, not subject to hurt, 
loving the thing that is good, quick, 


which cannot be letted, ready to do 
good, 23 Kind to man, stedfast, 
sure, free from care, having all power, 
overseeing all things, and going 
through all understanding, pure and 
most subtil spirits. 24 For wisdom 
is more moving than any motion: 
she passeth and goeth through all 
things by reason of her pureness. 
25 For she is the breath of the power 
of God, and a pure influence flowing 
from the glory of the Almighty: 
therefore can no defiled thing fall into 
her. 26 For she is the brightness of 
the everlasting light, the unspotted 
mirror of the power of God, and the 
image of his goodness. 27 And 
being but one, she can do all things: 
and remaining in herself, she maketh 
all things new: and in all ages enter¬ 
ing into holy souls, she maketh them 
friends of God, and prophets. 28 
For God loveth none but him that 
dwelleth with wisdom. 29 For she 
is more beautiful than the sun, and 
above all the order of stars: being 
compared with the light, she is found 
before it. 30 For after this cometh 
night: but vice shall not prevail 
against wisdom. 


134 


THE LATE PROFESSOR SHALER OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY SAID: 


“The greatest discovery of the 
modern age, was that of the unity 
of everything in the universe, the 
oneness of all life. 

This idea that there is but one 
principle running through the uni¬ 
verse, one life, one truth, one reality; 
that this power is divinely beneficent, 
and that we are in a great principle 
current, which is running Godward, is 
one of the most inspiring, encouraging 
and fear killing thoughts that ever 
entered the human mind. 

The realization that in the truth of 
our being we are a part of the one 
great creative principle of the uni¬ 
verse, a necessary, inseparable part 
of it, and that we can no more be 
annihilated than can the laws of 
mathematics; that we must be im¬ 
mortal ourselves because we are a 
part of immortal principle; that we 
must partake of all the qualities which 
compose the Creation, that we must 
be perfect and immortal because we 
were created by Perfection, solves 
the greatest mysteries of life and 
gives us a wonderful sence of security, 
safety, satisfaction and contentment, 
which nothing else can give. 

The constant contemplation of our 
union with the infinite life helps to 
establish a certainty in our lives, an 
assurance that we are not the play¬ 
things of chance, the puppets of 
accident or fate; that we are not 
tossed hither and thither in the uni¬ 
verse, the victims of a cruel destiny 
which we cannot control. 

Just in proportion as we realize this 
oneness with the Divine, this at-one- 
ment with our Maker, do our lives 
become calm, confident, progressive. 

Just in proportion as we have a per¬ 


fect sense of our at-one-ment with the 
Divine shall we receive the life cur¬ 
rent, the health current, which can 
heal all our diseases. This is the 
secret of all mental healing, of all 
health, prosperity and happiness, a 
conscious union with the Divine. 
There is no harmony, no health, no 
genuine happiness that is lasting and 
worth while outside of this at-one- 
ment. If we could only constantly 
live in the consciousness of this union 
we could always maintain physical 
and mental harmony. This is the 
secret of all human blessedness. 

In this consciousness we do not 
grow old in spirit. Instead of declin¬ 
ing with the years we renew our 
youth perpetually, and we constant¬ 
ly advance to greater and greater 
growth. 

What a comforting and sustaining 
thought it is that an infinite power 
presides within us which is kinder 
than we can be to those we love best; 
a force which is always ready to heal 
our hurts and to restore us, no matter 
how we have sinned in violating 
nature’s laws! 

When one feels that his hand is 
gripped by the Omnipotent hand he 
is “too near to God for doubt or fear,” 
and he knows that no harm can come 
to him from any finite source. 

The realization of this will help us 
to live the life which is worth while, 
and will show us the bareness, the 
hollowness, the emptiness of the 
selfish, greedy struggle in which most 
of us are engaged. The conscious¬ 
ness that we actually do live, move 
and have our being in Divinity will 
elevate our standards and multiply 
our powers as nothing else can. ” 


135 


EXTRACT FROM THE BOOK OF WISDOM—APOCRYPHA. 


This book has been erroneously ascribed to Solomon. The original manu¬ 
script was in Greek. Its diction, as well as its doctrine, points to a Greek 
original, unfettered by Hebrew idioms. Entirely foreign to the disposition 
manifest by the career of Solomon. In 'philosophy , in expressing the duties 
of rulers, in sublimity of thought, in rhetorical power and command of 
language, (excepting a few verses, that appear to be foreign,) in the wit and 
good spirit as stated in verse 19 chap, viii, in the devotion to study to the 
injury of health, and in the expression of a choice of Wisdom instead of light 
as by verse 10 chap, vii—these writings correspond with encyclopedic descrip¬ 
tion of characteristics of the Greek, Democritus. Nature, he calls God, and 
wisdom is called, she. Wisdom, is exalted to immortality. “The whoppers ” 
told by his neighbors—the Israelites—in relation to their exploits, he very 
leniently dresses in a garb of Natural ability or wisdom. Idolatry, is treated 


of m three chapters begmnmg with the 
relate to performances by Yogins or 
traveling in India. 

Chap. VI. 

Hear, therefore, O ye kings, and 
understand; learn, ye that be judges 
of the ends of the earth. 2 Give ear, 
ye that rule the people, and glory in 
the multitude of nations. 3 For 
power is given you of the Lord, and 
sovereignty from the Highest, who 
shall try your works, and search 
out your counsels. 4 Because, being 
ministers of his kingdom, ye have not 
judged aright, nor kept the law, nor 
walked after the counsel of God; 5 
Horribly and speedily shall he come 
upon you: for a sharp judgment shall 
be to them that be in high places. 6 
For mercy will soon pardon the mean* 
est: but mighty men shall be mightily 
tormented. 7 For he which is Lord 
over all shall fear no man’s person, 
neither shall he stand in awe of any 
man’s greatness: for he hath made the 
small and great, and careth for all 
alike. 8 But a sore trial shall come 


xm. The last verses of 
Fakirs, seen by Democritus while 

upon the mighty. 9 Unto you there¬ 
fore, O kings, do I speak, that ye may 
learn wisdom, and not fall away: 10 
For they that keep holiness holily, 
shall be judged holy: and they that 
have learned such things shall find 
what to answer. 11 Wherefore set 
your affection upon my words; desire 
them, and ye shall be instructed. 
12 Wisdom is glorious, and never 
fadeth away: yea, she is easily seen 
of them that love her, and found of 
such as seek her. 13 She preventeth 
them that desire her, in making her¬ 
self first known unto them. 14 
Whoso seeketh her early shall have 
no great travail: for he shall find her 
sitting at his doors. 15 To think 
therefore upon her is perfection of 
wisdom: and whoso watcheth for her 
shall quickly be without care. 16 
For she goeth about seeking such as 
are worthy of her, showeth herself 
favourably unto them in the ways, 


136 


and meeteth them in every thought. 
17 For the very true beginning of her 
is the desire of discipline; and the 
care of discipline is love: 18 And 
love is the keeping of her laws; and 
the giving heed unto her laws is the 
assurance of incorruption; 19 And 
incorruption maketh us near unto 
God: 20 Therefore the desire of wis¬ 
dom bringeth to a kingdom. 21 If 
your delight be then in thrones and 
sceptres, O ye kings of the people, 
honour wisdom, that ye may reign 
for evermore. 22 As for wisdom, 
what she is, and how she came up, 
I will tell you, and will not hide 
mysteries from you: but will seek 
her out from the beginning of her 
nativity, and bring the knowledge of 
her into light, and will not pass over 
the truth. 23 Neither will I go with 
consuming envy; for such a man shall 
have no fellowship with wisdom. 
24 But the multitude of the wise is the 
welfare of the world: and a wise kin g 
is the upholding of the people. 25 
Receive therefore instruction through 
my words, and it shall do you 
good. 

Chap. VII. 

I myself also am a mortal man, like 
to all, and the offspring of him that 
was first made of the earth; 2 And 
in my mother’s womb was fashioned 
to be flesh in the time of ten months, 
being compacted in blood, of the seed 
of man, and the pleasure that came 
with sleep. 3 And when I was born, 

I drew in the common air, and fell 
upon the earth, which is of like 
nature, and the first voice which I 
uttered was crying, as all others do. 


4 I was nursed in swaddling-clothes, 
and that with cares. 5 For there is 
no king that had any other beginning 
of birth. 6 For all men have one 
entrance into fife, and the like going 
out. 7 Wherefore I prayed, and 
understanding was given me: I called 
upon God, and the spirit of wisdom 
came to me. 8 I preferred her before 
sceptres and thrones, and esteemed 
riches nothing in comparison of 
her. 9 Neither compared I unto her 
any precious stone, because all gold 
in respect of her is as a little sand, 
and silver shall be counted as clay 
before her. 10 I loved her above 
health and beauty, and chose to have 
her instead of light: for the light that 
cometh from her never goeth out. 
11 All good things together came to 
me with her, and innumerable riches 
in her hands. 12 And I rejoiced in 
them all, because wisdom goeth before 
them: and I knew not that she was 
the mother of them. 13 I learned 
diligently, and do communicate her 
liberally: I do not hide her riches. 14 
For she is a treasure unto men, that 
never faileth: which they that use 
become the friends of God, being 
commended for the gifts that come 
from learning. 

(Chap, viii, 17 Now, when I con¬ 
sidered these things in myself, and 
pondered them in my heart, how that 
to be allied unto wisdom is immortality; 
18 And great pleasure it is to have 
her friendship; and in the works of 
her hands are infinite riches; and in 
the exercise of conference with her, 
prudence; and in talking with her, a 
good report; I went about seeking 
how to take her to me. 19 For I 


137 


was awitty child, and had a good spirit.) 
15 God hath granted me to speak as I 
would, and to conceive as is meet for 
the things that are given me: because 
it is he that leadeth unto wisdom, and 
directeth the wise. 16 For in his 
hand are both we and our words; all 
wisdom also, and knowledge of work¬ 
manship. 17 For he hath given me 
certain knowledge of the things that 
are, namely, to know how the world 
was made, and the operation of the 
elements: 18 The beginning, end¬ 
ing, and midst of the times: the alter¬ 
ations of the turnings of the sun, and 
the change of seasons: 19 The cir¬ 
cuits of years, and the positions of 
stars: 20 The natures of living 
creatures, and the furies of wild 
beasts: the violence of winds, and 
the reasonings of men: the diversities 
of plants, and the virtues of roots: 
21 And all such things as are either 
secret or manifest, them I know. 22 
For wisdom, which is the worker of 
all things, taught me: for in her is an 
understanding spirit, holy, one only, 
manifold, subtil, lively, clear, unde¬ 
filed, plain, not subject to hurt, 
loving the thing that is good, quick, 


which cannot be letted, ready to do 
good, 23 Kind to man, stedfast, 
sure, free from care, having all power, 
overseeing all things, and going 
through all understanding, pure and 
most subtil spirits. 24 For wisdom 
is more moving than any motion: 
she passeth and goeth through all 
things by reason of her pureness. 
25 For she is the breath of the power 
of God, and a pure influence flowing 
from the glory of the Almighty: 
therefore can no defiled thing fall into 
her. 26 For she is the brightness of 
the everlasting light, the unspotted 
mirror of the power of God, and the 
image of his goodness. 27 And 
being but one, she can do all things: 
and remaining in herself, she maketh 
all things new: and in all ages enter¬ 
ing into holy souls, she maketh them 
friends of God, and prophets. 28 
For God loveth none but him that 
dwelleth with wisdom. 29 For she 
is more beautiful than the sun, and 
above all the order of stars: being 
compared with the light, she is found 
before it. 30 For after this cometh 
night: but vice shall not prevail 
against wisdom. 











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